Delhi’s anti-corruption ombudsman Manmohan Sarin today advocated the need for social boycott of the corrupt and rued the “indifference” of the silent majority towards the menace.
“Unless people condemn, despise, and excommunicate the dishonest, the corrupt will continue to enjoy status and respect in society”, Sarin said speaking at the launch of ‘Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre Helpline’ by Transparency International India.
“The indifference of silent majority is the real cause of corruption. Till you are not personally affected by corruption, you look the other way”, he said. The Lokayukta lamented that complicated laws and lengthy judicial procedures help the corrupt to go scot free.
“Corrupt people go scot free due to long time of trial and I have no hesitation in saying that the truth is that people with money get away”, he said. “Laws are complicated and are not citizen friendly which gives an opportunity to authorities for corrupt practises”, he said. He asked the media to run a sustained campaign against corruption. “The media should not stop at just one report.
It has to be a sustained campaign against wrong. It is the duty of media”, he said. Advocating administrative and financial autonomy for Lokayukta office, he said that in states where the Chief Minister is not included under Lokayukta, the Lokayukta does not face any problem. “States where the Chief Minister does not come under Lokayukta Act, there is no problem faced by the Lokayukta”, he said.
He said that instilling moral and ethical values in people at young age can help in tackling corruption. “The fall in moral values in society is also to be blamed for rising corruption.
We should catch people young and give them moral and ethical values”, he said. The toll free helpline number of ‘Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre’ by Transparency International India will inform citizen about their legal rights, provide legal assistance and equip them to take action on cases of corruption that they have been victims of.
“A victim of corruption can call our helpline and take legal advice from our lawyer. After that if they need any assistance in drafting complaint and approaching the right department, our team will help them”, P S Bawa, Chairman Transparency International India said. Transparency International India is the accredited India chapter of the international civil society organisation based in Berlin.