1. Indian system being Complex is inherently bad, and Lokpal will add another layer to the complexity.
2. Economic freedom is proven to lower corruption and we should demand more economic freedom, not Lokpal. If middle class vote in large numbers Govt would be forced to reform the economy and Lokpal won't be needed.
3. Lokpal may be impractical to implement and they may get mired in the system as well, making little difference to corruption on ground
Coming to the contention that Complex is inherently bad, may be he is confusing complex with complicated. Contrary to popular beliefs most good systems are complex in nature, including those found in nature itself as Eric Berlow explains. So blindly removing layers or refusing to add any new one may not make the system any better.
Economic freedom is proven the world over to reduce corruption, I don't contest that. Economic reforms are important but checking corruption should not be held hostage to economic reforms. That's why a mechanism like Lokpal is important, it is not dependent on economic reforms which depends on political will and might take ages. Economic reforms can co-exist with a system like Lokpal or ombudsman as it does in free economies like Hong Kong.
Regarding the impracticality argument, the nitty gritties can be worked out, we already have a few successful models to learn from and replicate with required modifications. Lokayukta system of Karnataka said to be the most effective in checking corruption at the highest level is one such example, CAG is another example. These existing systems can provide the blueprint for the proposed Lokpal, we should not miss the woods for the trees, any new system may not work exactly as designed and will definitely require course corrections from time to time but a beginning has to be made.
(Picture courtesy topnews.in)
Complexity of the System is not in it´s nature but the LACK OF DIRECTION at the top levels of governance, NO SINCERITY in implementing at the middle levels of administration, APATHY in execution and FICKLE MINDED people at the grass root levels.
ReplyDeleteEconomic freedom and corruption are not at all inter-related. Corruption has got more to do with the acceptable standards of public life in a society. Corruption has increased with erosion of values across the board and not without the opportunities available with economic reforms. The scale of corruption seen in the present day was unimaginable in our country without opening the economy. Corruption in India is more of a Convenience fee and Opportunity cost! Most of the times willingly paid to get things done or pushed as the case may be.
Lokpal Bill is not a magic wand; it will be impractical in the present Political, Administrative and Social setup - in that same order. It is but a STEP; step in the right direction which must be supported to make it a firm and proud stride ahead for the Nation.
WE AS CITIZENS MUST RESOLVE NOT TO PAY A PAISA IN BRIBES.......let it cost us any amount of discomfort, to change things for good a real LONG LASTING GOOD!!!
Happy Independence Day! and thanks for commenting. Though much needs to be desired but we still have some institutions that are functioning remarkably well amidst all the chaos, and some others are failing not because of any fault in the system but because of people driving it. Because of the few institutions that are working, we have not yet gone the way of some of the failed states that surround us.
ReplyDeleteThere is a correlation between Economic freedom and Corruption. Do refer to Chart 3 of the following article (http://is.gd/54669a). Yes scale of corruption at the highest level has increased due to increased size of the economy, but economic growth is a necessity and without economic reforms and liberalization, this level of growth was not possible. In closed socialist economies, most incidents of corruptions get swept under the carpet and most people don't get to hear about them, we can't conclude that people were less corrupt or more principled in the pre-liberalization period.
Efficacy of Lokpal remains to be seen, but the motive behind this bill IMO is commendable.
If corruption at the highest level is curbed, they themselves will make sure that those down the line fall in line as well.