Corruption refers to the act of misuse and abuse of power especially by those in the government for personal gains either pecuniary or a favor. Corruption is a fast growing evil in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is not confined to a few departments and almost all government departments have been indulged in corruption in some or the other way. It is thriving and growing at a high pace and for the past two decades, the corruption rate in Jammu and Kashmir has broken the record among Indian states and at present time, The Jammu and Kashmir still maintains its first top position among Indian states and has left the poor Bihar State very far away. Corruption has many forms like Bribery, favoritism, nepotism, cronyism, patronage wrongdoings, graft, extortion, fraud, embezzlement, collusion etc. Corruption is found almost everywhere in Jammu and Kashmir and is very high in the public sector compared to the private sector due to various reasons like lack of effective and weak enforcement of laws against corrupt persons . The gravity of corruption in Jammu and kashmir in particular is such that poor, vulnerable and marginalized people are being forced to pay money to get their free services as they deserve it free from the government because people pay huge taxes to the government and the government is always committed for the same free services to the people. For getting ration cards, income certificates, Aadhaar cards, birth and death certificates, domicile certificates, driving licenses, Ayushmaan Bharat Cards(Golden cards), admissions in private schools and colleges , other free services through government schemes, the poor innocent and helpless people are forced to pay bribe by the corrupt people and corrupt people proudly called corruption as Tea (Chai in Kashmiri language). Some service providers who don’t take bribes but harass people mentally due to delay of public services are also among corrupts. The corruption in the public sector is very high compared to the private sector. All departments of the public sector are directly or indirectly involved in corruption however, the rate of corruption varies from public to private sector. Corruption is not just taking or giving bribe but it includes more than that like dereliction of public duties, deliberate staying at homes by government officials, staying idle at offices, denying truth, lack of work culture, transparency, accountability and supporting lie, irregularities, frauds and embezzlement etc. Denying and delaying RTI information under RTI Act 2009 to citizens by public servants is a professional corruption.
In Kashmir valley, few Government departments like Revenue has been labeled by the majority of people as the most corrupt department and its officials are looked upon with suspicion by the majority of people but the fact is very different. There are many departments where some employees are most professional in corruption menace and they are hoodwinking the eyes of higher authorities of the government in a broad daylight and our society also blind foldedly respect and honor them due to failure of understanding the concept “what is called Corruption and its Forms”. Have employees as public servants of all government departments ever thought of transparency, accountability, honesty, dedication, integrity, work culture, punctuality, sympathy, empathy etc. etc. The results are witnessed everywhere among all societies. Lack of these public service values by public servants is the worst form of corruption. The private sector too is not at the bottom of the corruption ladder but at the upper rung of the corruption ladder thus indulged in corruption evil. There are some private hospitals, educational institutions, coaching institutions etc. who are charging high fees for services they provide to their stakeholders. Doctors leaving government hospitals before their timing and working in private hospitals up to late hours for money greed are killing poor patients in government hospitals is a corruption and the same act involves both the doctors and owners of hospitals in a corruption crime. Likewise some coaching institutions where the majority of government teachers teach, are teaching and treating different ways to their students at coaching and school level and there are instances of high fee charges in private coaching and educational institutions in Kashmir valley as well. It is pertinent to mention here that there is also a good percentage of officials both in public and private sector who are working tirelessly and with the dedication for the benefit of all deserving stakeholders due to their good consciousness and full faith in the Almighty Allah and the Quran. Such officials deserve genuine respect and appreciation from the government and people. As per corruption perception Index 2020 released by Transparency International a non -profit, non- governmental organization dedicated to fighting corruption across the world, India stands at 86th place out of 180 countries in corruption Perception Index and slipped six places compared to 2019 corruption Perception index. It shows the rising graph of corruption rate in the country instead of declining rate and in Kashmir valley particularly, it is very high and is in an unbridled mode. It not only hampers economic growth but also undermines the rule of law in the country. Corruption is obstructing social, economic and political development of the state and is also a hurdle for good governance. It is also harmful to national security. Corruption leads to the exploitation and violation of fundamental rights of the poor and marginalized and increases income inequality. Corruption deprives poor and marginalized people of basic essential services that are against humanity and violates the right to life as a fundamental right of the poor and people. Corruption free, transparent and just systems contribute to the progress of the marginalized class and prosperity of the society and the country. Despite stringent government laws, enforcement agencies, and the slogan of ‘ zero tolerance towards corruption”, corruption has neither disappeared nor reduced but it has spread its wings and grown more sophisticated in the State. However, Institutions like Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB), State Accountability Commission (SAC) and State Vigilance Commission (SVC) may have been doing their best in order to make the state of Jammu and Kashmir corruption free State, but the political interference and moles within the system make their job tough and complicated in contemporary time. Such institutions need to be strengthened and free from interference. To raise a war against the corruption menace plaguing in our societies, the government should come up with more stringent laws and robust vigilance mechanism against corruption and persons involved in corruption menace, wrongdoings, favoritism, nepotism etc. should be dealt as per stringent laws against corruption on fast track basis. Investigation by investigating agencies against corruption charges should be investigated in a very transparent manner so that victimization of innocent people in false allegations and frivolous cases is avoided and fool proof mechanisms be ensured in the state. Besides, Civil society, NGOs’, bureaucrats, politicians, intellectuals, religious scholars must also come forward in order to bring awareness and positive change among public servants and general people regarding corruption evil and its negative consequences so that corruption evil gets eradicated from the Jammu and Kashmir. Let us pledge and hope that all employees of public and private sector shall promote ethical business practices and foster culture of honesty and integrity, not offer or accept bribes, ensure transparency and accountability, adhere to laws and rules, adopt code of ethics, honest discharge of duties, provide prompt grievance redressal and protect and protect rights and interests of stakeholders and society.
(The author is a teacher at Government Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwah in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district . Views are his own)
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