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The menace of corruption

The menace of corruption
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Tackling corruption has been one of the key concerns of the present day governments, but how successful they have been in this endeavor is a different story altogether. The state of Jammu and Kashmir too is not alien to corruption. In fact the practice of corruption has been so deep rooted in our social fabric that the state has been termed as one of the most corrupt places in the Asian subcontinent.

Recently, the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) in its annual corruption study – CMS India Corruption Study 2017- has placed Jammu and Kashmir along with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh as most corrupt among 20 surveyed states.

The study reveals that Karnataka (77%) followed by Andhra Pradesh (74%), Tamil Nadu (68%), Maharashtra (57%), J&K (44%) and Punjab (42%) emerged as more corrupt states among 20 surveyed states as far as experienced corruption in public services is concerned.

The report states that JK was also among most corrupt states in 2005. In 2005, the more corrupt states were Bihar (74%), J&K (69%), Odisha (60%), Rajasthan (59%) and Tamil Nadu (59%).

What is more ironic is that the study blamed the state government of not being committed to eradicate this menace. The study revealed that more than 33 percent respondents stated that state government is not ‘committed at all’ towards reducing corruption in public services.

However, what has come as a welcome move is the announcement of establishing a full-fledged Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to tackle and eradicate corruption in the State in a more effective and meaningful manner.

The administration has worked out a mission which shifts the focus from outlays to outcomes and improving governance through various initiatives which, inter-alia, include establishment of cells for (a) public grievance redressal (b) monitoring identified mega projects and flagship programmes and (c) setting up of an Anti-Corruption Bureau based on the best models in the country.

The move is a welcome if the administration has recognized the need to tackle the menace of corruption as critical to good governance in the State. However, to achieve this, strengthening of the Anti-Corruption Laws and the Vigilance Organization based on the best models in the Country has been accorded top priority.

At present, there is a Vigilance Organization which implements the various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act Samvat, 2006. There is a State Vigilance Commission also. Under the existing set up, many shortcomings have been noticed which hamper the effective implementation of the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Laws.

The establishment of ACB would do away with the shortcomings in the existing anti-corruption mechanism and make it more effective in tackling graft.

The administration will have to bring in amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act Samvat, 2006 and Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act, 2011 to give the Anti-Corruption Bureau more teeth to deal with complaints of corruption and take these to their logical end.

Otherwise, the decision to create a new anti corruption body will prove to be nothing but yet another addition to the list of toothless tigers which in the end prove more detrimental to the state rather than providing any benefit.

 

 


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