In a panel discussion on TV yesterday the issue of all prevalent atmosphere of corruption was one of the topics discussed.
What one fails to understand is why some simple measures cannot be taken. Such as:
1. Enhance transparency by placing in public domain, in real time, most of information that is available within the Govt. system. not that there is no corruption in the private domain. But as it does not hurt or steal from the public therefore it is of less importance.
2. Make punishment for being corrupt or dishonest being so ridiculously harsh that people should shudder at the very thought. Say make levy of fines and punishment in gross disproportion to the level of corruption. Why should people have any objection to this?
3. Make being honest easy. Some of the major reasons for dishonesty are high rates of taxation, low salaries to Govt. servants as compared to the level of authority and responsibility the are tasked with. So lower the taxes to the bare minimum levels and enhance base of people being taxed and also reduce the compliance that are required to be followed so that people do not have to 'not comply'. Typical example is that for each multistory building required to be built you need air-port authority clearance irrespective of the fact that another much taller building may already be existing in the adjacent site; or you need clearance from the forest department to start construction in a sector cleared by the Govt. for construction of residential or commercial buildings, or you need an approval from the mining department when you dig a foundation or a basement. Just how ridiculous can regulatory requirements go!!
4. make approvals the norm and non approval of any proposal a difficult proposition. let the system say why it is rejecting and also make it mandatory to suggest what should be done to get approval
5. In discussion it was also pointed out that the 'Real Estate' business is the fountainhead of corruption. This can be easily tackled by adopting a single window system for obtaining all clearances. Let the agency responsible for getting or granting approvals be responsible for this. Let this agency get the necessay documents, on line as far as possible, and have these processed and grant approval
Is it so difficult??
What one fails to understand is why some simple measures cannot be taken. Such as:
1. Enhance transparency by placing in public domain, in real time, most of information that is available within the Govt. system. not that there is no corruption in the private domain. But as it does not hurt or steal from the public therefore it is of less importance.
2. Make punishment for being corrupt or dishonest being so ridiculously harsh that people should shudder at the very thought. Say make levy of fines and punishment in gross disproportion to the level of corruption. Why should people have any objection to this?
3. Make being honest easy. Some of the major reasons for dishonesty are high rates of taxation, low salaries to Govt. servants as compared to the level of authority and responsibility the are tasked with. So lower the taxes to the bare minimum levels and enhance base of people being taxed and also reduce the compliance that are required to be followed so that people do not have to 'not comply'. Typical example is that for each multistory building required to be built you need air-port authority clearance irrespective of the fact that another much taller building may already be existing in the adjacent site; or you need clearance from the forest department to start construction in a sector cleared by the Govt. for construction of residential or commercial buildings, or you need an approval from the mining department when you dig a foundation or a basement. Just how ridiculous can regulatory requirements go!!
4. make approvals the norm and non approval of any proposal a difficult proposition. let the system say why it is rejecting and also make it mandatory to suggest what should be done to get approval
5. In discussion it was also pointed out that the 'Real Estate' business is the fountainhead of corruption. This can be easily tackled by adopting a single window system for obtaining all clearances. Let the agency responsible for getting or granting approvals be responsible for this. Let this agency get the necessay documents, on line as far as possible, and have these processed and grant approval
Is it so difficult??
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