Common citizens in urban areas and villagers in rural areas when approaching any government department are first asked about the quantum of money or bribe they have to pay for their expected service or work done by the government servants. Even when some employees at various levels are trapped by anti-corruption, the corruption continues and even after trapping the culprits they are saved by their senior officials by not giving sanction for their prosecution which is required under law. Why is so much corruption going on and why are the corrupt are saved by higher officials? The Pune-based Sakal’s
In a series of news-features, it is pointed out that ministers are scheduling their meetings at district places when they are eager to attend marriages ceremonies of their relatives or family friends. High level bureaucrats also use the same technique so that their expenditure is bourn by the concerned departments while they are greeted with high cost shawls, idols and other costly presentation articles not only to the ministers or bureaucrats but also to their wives and relatives. Besides presentation articles, all expenditure at shree Mahalaxmi temple including offerings to be presented to idol of Goddess Shree Mahalaxmi is also borne by lower level officials and employees of the concerned departments. This is done under the much coveted system of ‘protocol’ and huge amount is spent for the purpose. All expenditure which amounts to a few thousands at each and every trip of ministers and bureaucrats is not recorded in official expenditure. The departmental officials and employees arrange for such expenditure which then covered by way of bribe from common citizens come to their offices to get their work done.
Referring to specific ministers and bureaucrats, the features have exposed a few departments. The minister of transport departments has made it almost a system to visit regional and district on the pretext of bi-monthly review meeting and to collect cash bags while returning to the destination in Mantralay. This department is notorious for open corruption as its offices collect money for every transaction through agents who have maintained their open stalls in front of the offices. Even pilots of helicopters are well treated with room in posh hotel and besides all expenditure inside the hotel lunch packing are also provide while leaving. Bills are of course paid by officials of prohibition department which recovers all expenditure (including their share margin) from liquor shop owners who are expected to pay bribe for every transaction carried out as per the legal requirements and that too at every level of the administration. This is possible because rules and regulations are so many and so complicated that applicants for liquor shops are crossed at every stage and they are expected to respond to all rules with the result that they do not expect any aspect duly completed unless bribe is paid. Strangely enough huge amount of money thus earned by way of bribe and the share which remains after paying dues to all levels of the administration, is invested in the same business of liquor shops owned by those belonging to the prohibition department.
It has also exposed which department has to bear such expenses and for whose tours and pleasures. The revenue department is expected to pay all expenses of tours of chief minister, deputy chief minister, Union ministers and ministers coming from other states, chief of state legislative Assembly and Council as also guardian minister. The revenue department is comparatively more burdened and hence it is perhaps most corrupt department in the government administration. Other departments are expected to take care of their own ministers and bureaucrats for whom they cover the expenditure from people coming to them for their routine work. The more the stay of ministers and bureaucrats in a particular district, the more expenditure has to be incurred. The burden is obviously passed on people, whose even legal and reasonable work is not done by any department without paying bribe which has now received the status of statutory payment to the government. People who approach offices for getting property cards, ration cards, caste certificates, driving licenses, 7/12 documents, liquor permits and many such requirements are expected to pay much more as bribe than the prescribed fees or charges legally payable for the specific work or requirement.
Despite a sort of campaign and series covering each department and its ‘modus operandi’ being published by Sakal there is no response from district collector or higher officials either defending or clarifying the open allegations. The state government’s publicity department now known as information department which was formerly taking initiative in issuing press notes clarifying the department’s position and attempting at creating an impression that all is well in government departments is now silent. This department is not taking any initiative as it gets no response from the higher authorities of the concerned departments who prefer to ignore press comments. Both the ministers and bureaucrats seem to be insensitive to media exposure with the result that the corrupt practices are safely continued at the cost common citizens’ or consumers’ money.