Corruption, a ubiquitous menace, thrives where the moral fabric of society weakens. It is the ominous outcome of a society’s failure to uphold its core values. When integrity, honesty, and accountability erode, corruption seeps into the very foundation of governance, commerce, and interpersonal relationships. To combat this scourge, it becomes imperative to rejuvenate the core values that underpin societal harmony and progress. Embracing transparency, fostering ethical leadership, promoting education and awareness, and enforcing stringent laws are indispensable measures in uplifting the core values of integrity, honesty, and accountability within society. Through concerted efforts, we can aspire to build a world where corruption finds no fertile ground to take root, and where the virtues of integrity and accountability flourish.
Answer
India’s recent low rank of 85 in the Transparency international – corruption perception index 2022 has again brought the issue of corruption in the midst of public discourse. Corruption refers to dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power.
- It can include bribery, gifts, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, influence peddling, insider trading and embezzlement.
Corruption as the Manifestation of the Failure of Core Values in Society
- The erosion of Integrity can lead to corrupt practices, as individuals compromise their ethical principles for personal gains.
- For e.g.- Pooja Singhal IAS from Jharkhand cadre -ED arrested her on money laundering charges worth over 80 crores.
- Total neglect of accountability mechanisms that propels individuals and organisations to think that they are above the law
- Corporate e.g. – the Volkswagen quoted wrong emission standards (Emission Gate Scandal)
- Triumph of consequentialism over deontology – the so called Machiavellian notion of ends justifying means and the complete disregard for the means deployed.
- e.g. – people want to get rich quick without fair play, which result into dishonest acts. This was done by Jordan Belford i.e. the wolf of wall street.
- Consumerist culture and greed– luxuries and comforts, middle class cannot afford so indulges in corruption to satiate their desires.
- “Sanskritization of corruption” – Kaushik Basu, i.e. when corruption is not only tolerated but becomes a status symbol-people strive towards it to gain respect.
- In politics Corruption has ceased to be an electoral issue, corrupt image does not deter from winning.
Measures required for uplifting the core values of the society
- Imparting values-based education from an early age, as demonstrated in Finland where ethics education is integrated into the curriculum, teaching students about societal values, ethical decision-making.
- A comprehensive legal framework baked by autonomous investigative agencies.
- For e.g. – PMLA 2002, RTI 2005, Lokpal and Lokayukta 2013, PCA 2018 etc need to be strengthened.
- Agencies like CBI, ED, CVC etc be made more autonomous.
- Whistleblower Protection: Establish a safe environment for whistleblowers with legal protection and incentives, as seen in India with the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014, which encourages individuals to expose corruption.
- Ethical Leadership – Promote and encourage ethical leadership at all levels of society, including political, business, and community leaders. Hold leaders accountable for their actions and set high standards for ethical conduct.
- Political and electoral reforms – Reducing influence of money and muscle power, Reforms of Election commission.
- Civil Society Engagement: by encouraging the active participation of civil society organisations, NGOs, and citizens in monitoring and combating corruption. This will foster a culture of civic responsibility and engagement.
- e.g. – ADR, India against corruption etc.
- Ethics Training for Public Officials: to reinforce a commitment to integrity and ethical behaviour in their roles.
- e.g. – devising a code of ethics to complement the code of conduct as recommended by 2nd ARC.
- Attitudinal and Behavioural change – Adhering to Buddha’s teachings to control desire and find happiness. This will curb greed and promote contentment.
Therefore, we need to condemn and not condone corruption. We need zero tolerance towards corruption. This requires collaborative efforts from all sectors—governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals. Combining these measures can contribute to fostering a culture of integrity and upholding core values.
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