r
MESSAGE FOR VIGILANCE AWARNESS WEEK 2022
One would hardly consider the word 'corruption' to be an equivocal word. However, it
embraces within itself both the cause and the effect of key problems like under-
development, poverty and violence across the world today. Ample research exists to show
the causality between corruption and development, though a unidirectional trend is more
difficult to ascertain. Another matter of great interest is the differential impact of corruption
across different countries.
Corruption has immense potential to impact as well as distort policy. Take, for instance, the
capacity to damage incentives and distort Government priorities, which move away from
creating opportunities for the education and health sectors. As is seen in resource-rich
countries, corruption prevents people, ironically, from benefiting fully from the wealth of
their own country, as for example, the exploration of oil or mining, which generates huge
profits, equally paves the way for strong incentives for corruption. Corruption creates
uncertainty, compromises public policy, and eventually even leads to political unrest,
growth of grass-root movements and the attempts to wrest power from institutions
perceived to be corrupt.
Worldwide, an average of approximately 15% of the national GDP of a county is devoted
to public procurement. It is almost understood that funds go beyond just the delivery of
services. Both the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development estimate that 10%-30% of a public contract's overall value is lost to
Corruption. It is but obvious that the heavy burden of corruption slows down development
of any nation. ·
Personal integrity, however, will allow us to consciously choose zero tolerance for unethical
. activities, repeatedly and invariably, a change that is by its very nature slow but the surest for
the permanent eradication of this bane. Meanwhile, we can also choose to leverage
technology and improve monitoring as critical steps to our ultimate goal. The introduction of
online platforms to monitor the physical and financial progress of investment projects, for
instance, will go a long way in bolstering strong record-keeping and increasing public
accountability. For corruption to recede, transparency must step up to take its place. A free
press will also continue to help us build down the opaque walls that allow corruption to
flourish unheeded.
Extrinsic motivations such as a decent wage and merit-based appointments and
promotions allow for a lower tolerance of corruption. Increased accessibility to
participation in tender processes, professionalization of employees, and citizen stake-holder
participation are other avenues that need to be explored as well as deepened.
For corruption to come to a grinding halt, each of us has to have the courage to say no to
all such forms of corruption. The change will not happen in a single day, but it must begin
today and be practiced every single day.
Warm regards,
(Soma Sankara Prasad)
"
