Corruption and our life

Corruption and our life.....

A dialog from Rang de basanti “ Koi desh peferfect nahin hota, banana padta”. No country is perfect; we have to make it perfect. It’s a true sensible line which goes deep in to our heart. This triggers you to think about you and your society.

Dear readers, you might have read lot of corruption stories. But have you ever thought that you are also contributing to corruption? It may be direct or indirect…

You may be thinking, being software professional, you are no way linked with this corruption. You may assume you are very clean and perfect citizen. But think twice, you may be wrong!.

When I look back my certain moves and actions in the past, I feel ashamed sometime that I am supporting corruption. So I would request you, after reading this think about your self and your actions, and say was there any instances where you could have avoided and made your society PERFERCT! Here are some of my experiences on how I have got involved in to corruption directly/indirectly…

My battle against corruption goes back to 1999. Just passed out from 12th standard and had to submit the caste certificate to the CET counseling centre. I had to get this certificate from the district head quarters. All my documents were very clean and as per the rule. So I went ahead and submitted to some officer in the District commissioner Office Karwar. They told it will take a week or so. I came back. Those were days were there was limited phone connection or internet to get to know about your application status. After one week, when I was again going to the DC office my dad advised to carry some extra money to bribe them. Believe me, I told my dad that I am not going to pay any bribe amount as my documents were very clean. Going to Karwar was about 1.5 hour journey from my place and coasted around 18 rupees that time. So it was total of 36 rupees per one travel. This was really big amount that time. When I went again, the officer there was not ready to give my certificate and asked me to come again. I think he was expecting some bribe out of me. I had one of my friends Prashant in Karwar. So I requested him to ask the update mid of next week. I remember I traveled at least 4-5 times (36*5 = 180 rupees) to get this document finally without any bribe. If I had paid 100rs to the officer in my second visit only, I would have saved some money. But I think I was right to get my rights! This was my first fight against corruption.

Again the same story in 2002 in getting the two wheeler license. But the case was little different. I went with my friend to RTO office Mangalore without any agent. Officer was good. He just asked my engineering college name and CET rank. Other things were immaterial to the officer. He was happy to listen to these data and gave the green signal for the license. So I got the license easily without any hassles. License was given in the book format. But I wanted in single plane card format. Again I did not want to go through the agent. This time, I had to go to Mangalore around 4-5 times to get the card done. If I had bribed some one or went through the agent, card would have been issued directly to my hostel address!

But things are NOT the same after my graduation. Whether it is wrong or right, I got involved in corruption!

From the first year of my professional work, I started declaring HRA much more than what I am paying. Have I ever though that this is wrong. Yes I know this is wrong but if I start declaring it to the exact amount, my tax amount shots up! Question, have you ever tried to think on this and correct your self? Every one knows about this. Even our financial department knows about this. But whose responsibility to correct these? Isn’t it ours? Dear reader, do you belong to same category? Think before you claim that you are PERFECT!

I had been to on-site couple of times and earned some extra money. Have I ever showed in my income? Answer is NO. One of my close friends makes it a point to show it in his tax declaration. I admire him but have I taken any actions any time to correct my self? Dear reader, do you belong to same category? Think before you claim that you are PERFECT!

During the registration of the property, I have paid some money in hard cash and always registered for lower value than the actual property value. Have I ever taken a bold step to fight against these? Answer is NO. If I had taken, I will never buy a property! See the fatal condition. Dear reader, do you belong to same category? Think before you claim that you are PERFECT!

We always approach the agent to get the work faster, especially if it is some government office work. Involving the agent means supporting the corruption. Dear reader, do you belong to same category? Think before you claim that you are PERFECT!

Dear reader, I know if some one who is really fighting against corruption will sue me after reading my blog. I am worried about this but I want to put more things in practical rather than writing some hypothetical cases.

These above are directly linked to me, you and society. I think some time about my self, where are those qualities gone which I had in 1999 and 2002? Is it dead and do I have energy still left in to fight against them?

These above instances may be common in all of us. Either direct or indirect way, we have been involved in these. Being a responsible citizen of “Lead India”, we have to sit some time and think our self what we could do against these!

Charity begins at home, same way fight should start from you and me RIGHT NOW…

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