Lokpal Bill

Against

As the hustle and bustle and the excitement around the Lokpal movement subside, we need to reflect on what this public awakening means, and how we should channelise the considerable energy and idealism of the youth and rising middle classes. The past few weeks have been a roller-coaster ride. First, we witnessed the nonchalance and neglect of the government which acted (or remained inactive) on the assumption that notwithstanding the series of breathtaking scams, it is business as usual. There were no energetic proactive steps to inspire confidence in us, the people. Then the bungling as people spontaneously acted.

[pic]The massive spread of communications, 24-hour television, social media, internet and mobile telephones, all these at a time when more and more people are becoming genuine members of middle class with rising incomes, have had profound impact on our psyche and made collective assertion possible.

The government's repeated bungling is followed mercifully by the Parliament's mature, bi-partisan and dignified response in the debate on August 27. Now we can do some serious, sustained work to build a robust and viable independent institutional framework to fight corruption.What should be our vision of Lokpal? Should it be an omniscient, omnipotent body that will slay the demons of corruption everywhere and anywhere? Or should it be a focused body that alters the reward-risk perception of corrupt behavior, and help reverse the tide of corruption? Let us take the case of an Indian couple, Arun and Kiran Sharma in the US. Arun had a roaring medical practice in Texas for 30 years, and Kiran managed his practice. But they were not content with honest practice. Narcotics were prescribed, false bills were raised, and there was massive fraud at the cost of the public exchequer ( medicare and medicaid) and the health insurance companies. There was no hunger strike or agitation on the...