Anna Hazare and Team Anna highlighted corruption and demanded a law to eradicate corruption in India. A lofty ideal! If I were in Anna and his team’s position, what else would I have done?
- I would do a personal examination – am I corrupt? Do I keep my own standards; leave alone the standards expected by God? I may not be corrupt in terms of money, but am I corrupt in terms of power, ego…etc. Am I intolerant to others and condone violence as a means to correct people.
- I would pay all my taxes regularly and sincerely. I will not buy a thing in the market if the seller does not give me a receipt. I will not receive any land/real estate transaction money in cash but only by cheque. I will pay the tax in full as a responsible citizen.
- I will not pay a bribe, however small, to any Police officer, Government official or Politician to get things done. It could be for documents like birth certificates; permission for construction; getting domestic gas connections…etc. I will suffer delay, loss of privileges or loss of opportunities.
- I will not receive or pay any dowry for the marriage of my children and would not participate in any marriage among my relatives and friends where dowry transactions have taken place.
- I will not follow consumerist culture by upgrading my phones or cars often. I will not switch to a newer version of a phone or laptop or car until these things really break down.
- I will not mobilize volunteers through hate – ‘Hate Politicians’ but by love – for nation, society and all citizens including Dalits, Tribals, women and minorities. I will not give a donation to any political party.
- I will select volunteers for this movement only when they affirm and take an oath to follow these values in their personal and family life.
- I will select a team of leaders from among the volunteers who have the highest moral standards and credibility in the eyes of the public for integrity and a transparent life.
- Before demanding a law, I will mobilize my volunteers at the grass root level to ensure the Public Distribution System (PDS shops), Public Health Centres (PHCs), and Government schools function optimally, regularly and consistently. If that happens well for the next five to ten years, there won’t be illiteracy, hunger, malnutrition or poverty.
- Instead of spending Rs. 80 lakhs to glamorize a fast, I would have adopted 80 rural schools and would have them white-washed, installed benches, black boards nd toilets in those schools.
Maybe what is required from each of us is a self evaluation to come up with positive, constructive and nation-building ideas which would contribute to the progress of our nation.
Mr. J.N. Manokaran is a speaker, teacher, trainer and writer involved in ministries around the world.
(The opinions expressed here are of the author and not necessarily of the magazine)
