If we take to heart the words of wisdom and pledges or promises uttered by ministers and political leaders every other day in the media, the common people do not have much to worry about their safety or security in life and wellbeing besides the overall development of the state.
As regards corruption, political leaders from top to bottom are shouting from the rooftops that there will be no corruption and nepotism in job recruitment and that corruption in recruitment will become a thing of the past.
Even Chief Minister N Biren Singh was heard telling people some time ago that from now on transparency will become the norm in recruitment of jobs and that corruption in any form will not be tolerated. However, the question is do we have the luxury of analysing whether he was admitting about corrupt practices in the past or he wants to turn a new page with regard to corruption in job recruitment or for that matter warning his colleagues to desist from corrupt practices.
There is also the question of the practice of corruption and nepotism of all forms besides job recruitment.
If one is sincerely committed to eradicate corruption in public life, one must be ready to fight the manifestation of corruption and nepotism or favouritism in every aspect. Whether one succeeds in such an endeavour is besides the problem. The importance lies in the effort and sincerity of the people in power.
Also, most importantly the common people and general population need to believe in it.
Recently in the social media, there were some video clips of some candidates getting selected for jobs without paying a ‘single penny’ and of thanking the government of the day. Do the general public really believe that? Everything has to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Now, the state government has begun to somewhat relax the tight hold on declaration of recruitment results and a fresh recruitment process has started in several departments. If the pledge of no corruption is to be believed at all, why is there talk of people running from pillar to post for mortgaging or selling ingkhols and paddy fields or for that matter parting with valuables mostly gold ornaments in the market to grease the palms of those in power?
In corruption, two parties are always involved, one who is willing to pay for the favour and the other demanding a price for everything in return. Both parties are at fault. Yet, it is also a question of demand and supply. When there is no demand in cash or kind for fulfilling a favour from a party, why should the other party take the trouble of running from pillar to post to meet the demand?
Corruption is not only in terms of job recruitment but in matters of out of turn promotion for employees, wholesale regularisation of groups of contract or government employees, file movement from a table to another table in the secretariat and government offices, passing of contract bills or treasury bills and what not. And mind you, transparency and sincerity must come from the top and should be visible in work and action.
(The views expressed are personal)
