The Lok Pal bill seems really interesting and powerful and it is heartening to see people supporting it vehemently. But my question to all of us is, how ready are all of us to be honest and play our part in ridding the country of corruption? Next time when the traffic cop catches us, will we pay Rs. 200 and get a receipt or pay Rs. 50 and mutually benefit? Will you fake rent receipts to evade tax? I don't think I need to give more examples, we personally know those. Corruption has become such an intrinsic part of the society that many a times we do not realize that we are doing something wrong. You inadvertently legitimize many such actions in your conscience by repetition.
We cry out loud when multi million rupee scams of politicians are unearthed. But what about the multi millions added up by the seemingly negligible corrupt actions of each one of us? These small acts are not the ones for which you will be dragged to court. Our law enforcement agencies are simply not capable enough to look at millions of such cases, giving us the immunity to blatantly carry on. The Lok Pal will be there to bring to book politicians and govt offcials and other high profile people guilty of white collar corruption. This might help reduce high profile scams. But what about common people like us? As citizens we ask for the Right To Information, ask for means to check corruption, but are we ready to dispense our duties as responsible citizens and not cheat our country and countrymen? I admit that I am myself guilty of such acts. And I am pretty sure every person reading this would fail the polygraph test. But I can sincerely say that I am ready to change.
Every person should be ready to pass the ‘Swa Pal’ bill in his own heart and check his own actions. Getting the country rid of corruption is going to be a major lifestyle change for each and every one of us. The struggle doesn't end with the Lok Pal Bill, it just begins there.
