The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Dishonesty breeds corruption

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 08, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Dishonesty breeds corruption

Dishonest citizens and greedy officials are the cause for corruption at all levels in the Government, say our readers.

Blame the public

That even genuine needs from government agencies cannot be obtained without gratification is well known. It is only in agencies or departments where the top officials are relatively straight forward that corruption is less in evidence. The public are to blame; those who can afford it pay to get their work done faster by bending the rules. The mindsets of the bureaucracy and the public have to change.

K. Mohan,

Lingarajapuram

Citizens helpless

Citizens are helpless. Even if they want to be honest, there are government officials who get things done quicker for a price. The temptation is too much.

The various raids by the Lokayukta revealed how even comparatively lower level officials can have amassed wealth. Cleaning up this mess will take time but it can be done.

A. Krishnaswamy,

Basavanagudi

Dishonesty

If you are ready to bribe officials, anything is possible now. Although the Right to Information Act is being implemented, it will take time before people become more assertive. Dishonesty breeds corruption. Both the giver and taker are equally guilty.

Farha M.,

Fraser Town

Lack of will

Corruption has transcended the status of a cottage industry to become a heavy industry with ancillaries throughout India. Recent revelations by the Lokayukta point to the gravity of the situation among the government servants. What can the citizens do if the executive authority does not prevent corruption? When the Lokayukta's term is not being extended, it shows the absence of political and administrative will to tackle corruption in public life.

Jacob Abraham,

D.B. Sandra

Taking `short cuts'

When the Election Commission under T.N. Seshan could put an end to many malpractices in elections, one can expect upright former civil servants and civil society to resist corruption and perhaps end it to some extent. Too many citizens take "short cuts" and resort to bribing. Some civil servants succumb to the temptation.

Latha Venkatesh,

Jayanagar

Taxpayer's loss

It is easy to dismiss corruption in government as a universal phenomenon. What is galling is that it has grown beyond all limits in certain departments and is taken for granted. Greed and temptation know no limits. Many of us are only too willing to pay something extra to get a job done. The honest taxpayer is the loser.

Joshua S.,

Langford Road

Greedy officials

Greed and the desire to enjoy lifestyles beyond their reach, make many government officials at all levels resort to bribes.

The sad part is that an honest citizen who does not want to cut corners is often made to wait long to get his work done, because that "something" was not paid.

If there was to be a clean up, it has to start right from the top at the level of ministers and reach the lowest level. If those at the top are honest, those below them are bound to be careful.

B. Gururaj,

Thippasandra

Punish the guilty

Too often officials caught in the act get away with suspension while an enquiry is ordered. Meanwhile, records can be tampered with and witnesses turned around.

Only exemplary punishment without delay can put the fear of god into corrupt officials or for that matter, corrupt politicians.

So long as there is corruption in politics, it will prevail in bureaucracy.

Mamta K.,

Koramangala

NEXT WEEK: Some sections of the media have been accused of sensationalising events that are forgotten soon while ignoring important issues that affect a majority of the people. The media is guilty of creating "personalities" and then dumping them. Readers are invited to send their views to bglreflections@thehindu.co.in or write to Point-blank, The Hindu, No. 19, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 560001

Lingarajapuram

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