Corruption? Do we care?

No work can be done through any government office without paying a fat bribe ufffd this is the common perception that most young Indians share. We complain, sigh and then get on with our lives without doing anything about it. And now it takes 73 year-old social activist Anna Hazare to show us that if there is a will there is a way.

From April 5, Hazare will go on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the passage of Lokapal Bill, which aims to curb corruption in the system. Inspired by him, people from more than 100 cities have shown their support by promising to join him in the fast. However, the question remains if non-violent means would actually ensure the passage of such a bill.

Introduced, revised and abandoned several times since its inception in the late 1960s, the Lokpal Bill has been ignored by consecutive ruling parties.u00a0

Since independence, India has witnessed parties come and go. The only thing that remains constant is corruption, which over years has strengthened its hold and now affects the slightest interaction between the public and the government.

Lokpal Bill promises to be a refreshing change. The passing of this bill by the parliament will bring the Prime Minister's office and lawmakers under the purview of an anti-corruption ombudsman. Recently, a committee under the PM discussed the bill and proposed some changes in it. According, to these changes, any case against the Prime Minister in the arena of External Affairs and Defence cannot be investigated. But that will make the Lokpal toothless and pointless.

Hazare demands that the government should form a committee comprising equal representatives from the government and civil society to draft a strong Lokpal bill. In fact, he has threatened that he would fast unto death if the government does not take concrete steps in this regard.

There is no guarantee that the already scandal tainted Congress would give importance to people from various walks of life going hungry. Maybe, it would allow a much watered down version of the Lokapal Bill, as once passed this bill would be a bane for all those, who want to grab the seat of power to be served and not to serve. There are many, who feel that a hunger strike will yield no result and is just probably a way to attract media attention.

But even if one in a hundred, takes part in the strike with honest intentions, then India probably has a better future.