The Lok Pal or Jan Lok Pal bills by themselves will not totally curb corruption
in India. But the crusade by Anna Hazare and his followers has touched a deep
nerve in Indians who are fed up with corruption in their daily lives. It has
brought this issue to the forefront.
For the past 50 years or so, successive governments have proposed versions of a
Lok Pal
bill which has not seen the light of day, languishing in some committee or the
other. Indians have had enough. Hence the outcry across the country. You can
call it
"firing a round across the deck of the ship" to get the attention of the
politicians. Whatever version of the bill is passed, its impact will be
minimal, probably curbing some corruption at the higher echelons, for a period
of time. The only way corruption in India can be curbed, is if every Indian
takes a pledge against bribery,,cheating, and theiving in their personal
lives. Unless each Indian plays his or her part c orruption will not end..
Tall order. Personally, I believe that corruption is so entrenched in the
Indian psyche that it is par for the course. The din will die down and it will
be corruption as usual.
Unfortunately, it is the poor of India who are the most impacted by
corruption. But they are so busy eking out a miserable living, that very few
of them are involved in this movement against corruption. The ongoing Lok Pal
agitation is primarily a Middle class Indian phenomenon.
