Corruption
Political Corruption: Causes, Effects and Remedies
Introduction
Corruption is like a parasite1; that resides in the body and feeds from the essential nutrients being given to the being. This parasite is growing at a rapid pace and is feeding on individuals and on society. There will come a time where in this parasite may grow into such a giant that living itself may become a challenge. It is surely beckoning our country India and we need to address this problem. At present there are only a few who stand up against the deadly sting that corruption gives just because they are as a result subject to hard consequences at the receiving ends, but I think we have made a beginning and we need to let this number grow. We must realize that if this issue is not addressed then it will hit us back with a snowballing effect, gigantically. Dr S Radhakrishnan said that moral life in our country has shaken to its foundations. This seems true. Psychologists testify that all human beings need a healthy environment to grow. We become human every day. We are not finished products. If we go at the rate at which corruption is spreading then what will we teach our younger generation? How would we find people with courage, integrity, honesty and genuineness in the future? I begin by defining corruption and exploring its scope. My focus is on political corruption, its causes and effects on society. I also try to look at a few remedies to combat this cancerous weed from society. I then reflect a bit deeper on this issue before I conclude.
The ‘What’ of Corruption
The World Bank defines corruption as making use of public money for private gain.2 Brian Lightowler would define it as, ‘a global phenomena that is eating away at the very fabric of society.’3 Shiv Khera would advocate that this is the biggest problem India faces today. It is anti national, anti poor and anti developmental.4 Let me define corruption. For me corruption refers to an attitude of adopting an easy way of going about in
Introduction
Corruption is like a parasite1; that resides in the body and feeds from the essential nutrients being given to the being. This parasite is growing at a rapid pace and is feeding on individuals and on society. There will come a time where in this parasite may grow into such a giant that living itself may become a challenge. It is surely beckoning our country India and we need to address this problem. At present there are only a few who stand up against the deadly sting that corruption gives just because they are as a result subject to hard consequences at the receiving ends, but I think we have made a beginning and we need to let this number grow. We must realize that if this issue is not addressed then it will hit us back with a snowballing effect, gigantically. Dr S Radhakrishnan said that moral life in our country has shaken to its foundations. This seems true. Psychologists testify that all human beings need a healthy environment to grow. We become human every day. We are not finished products. If we go at the rate at which corruption is spreading then what will we teach our younger generation? How would we find people with courage, integrity, honesty and genuineness in the future? I begin by defining corruption and exploring its scope. My focus is on political corruption, its causes and effects on society. I also try to look at a few remedies to combat this cancerous weed from society. I then reflect a bit deeper on this issue before I conclude.
The ‘What’ of Corruption
The World Bank defines corruption as making use of public money for private gain.2 Brian Lightowler would define it as, ‘a global phenomena that is eating away at the very fabric of society.’3 Shiv Khera would advocate that this is the biggest problem India faces today. It is anti national, anti poor and anti developmental.4 Let me define corruption. For me corruption refers to an attitude of adopting an easy way of going about in
Bibliography: Lightowler, Brian. Corruption: Who Cares?. Bangalore: St Paul Press Training School, 2006. Khera, Shiv. Freedom is not Free. New Delhi: Rajkamal Electric Press, 2004. Namma Metro. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namma_Metro (accessed on January 31, 2013). Monkey Experiment. http://themetapicture.com/monkey-experiment (accessed on January 31, 2013).