Citizens' crusade against corruption

GUWAHATI: The cup of corruption of India's politicians has been brimming over for quite some time now, with scam after scam being unearthed by the media, regulatory bodies and social activists. And Anna Hazare, with his grit and determination, launched his fast-unto-death at the right time, motivating civil society into a revolt of sorts against graft.
Even as the people of India are coming forward from various quarters to express their solidarity and support for the septuagenarian social activist's fight against corruption, the state, which is in the middle of an assembly election, is seeing a protest against graft like never before.
In the run-up to the elections and even now, ahead of the second phase of polling, parties in opposition against the ruling Congress have been using corruption as a plank to gain political mileage and woo voters. Now, with the nation's fight against graft gaining steam, the citizens of Assam, from panwalas to retired civil servants, are coming together to ask people to vote corrupt politicians out of power this election and vote in efficient, honest leaders.
Examples of graft abound in the state. A retired government officer con-cerned about the problem narrated a personal experience while urging civil society to be proactive in the eradication of corruption. "A few days ago, our housemaid gave birth to a baby girl at a city government hospital. She was eligible for a government grant for mother and child care, but she was forced to pay a bribe of Rs 200 to a hospital employee to secure the amount," said the retired civil servant.
Meanwhile, a group of city traders sent back government officers seeking to extort money from them empty handed. "We are victims of corruption. Food inspectors recently came to our market and demanded Rs 500 from each shopkeeper in the name of Bihu bakshish. But, unlike other years, we did not give in to their demand," said Washim Ahmed, a trader at a whole-sale market, expressing his disappointment over the corruption rampant among government officials.
Leading the crusade against corruption in the state is farmers' leader Akhil Gogoi. Just like Hazare at the national level, Gogoi has been inspiring people of Assam to stand up to and take action against graft.
Following in his steps, an elite group of citizens in the state recently launched a campaign against corruption by organising the masses under their banner. "We feel there must be a mass struggle for the eradication of corruption. And with the second phase of the assembly elections slated for April 11, we have the opportunity to select leaders who are honest and strong enough to fight the problem," said Nishinath Changkakoti, a retired DGP of the state.
Changkakoti, along with former commissioner Rohini Kumar Barua, writer Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty, freedom fighter Jatin Goswami and other their like-minded people, organised the Public Forum for Eradication of Corruption' to urge the common people to engage in a mass struggle for the approval of the Lokpal Bill. Their aim is to spread awareness regarding graft among all sections of society.
As an immediate measure, the forum has appealed to voters that they should vote for candidates who are honest, don't have criminal cases lined up against them and who can be trusted to work selflessly for the welfare for the state. On the eve of the second phase polls, the members of the forum urged As-sam's citizens to maintain a close vigil on the conduct and activities of political parties and candidates so all violations of the moral code of con-duct can be detected and reported to the concerned officials of the Election Commission.
Forum member Jatin Goswami said largescale corruption in the state has shattered his dream for Assam. The freedom fighter added political leaders have not shown any interest in the implementation of the Lokpal Bill for decades and the time is ripe to push for it. "We need the Lokpal Bill because it can prevent corruption even in the uppermost echelons of society and help bring to book powerful corrupt politicians," said the octogenarian Goswami, who has joined the forum with the dream of reforming his state and making it corruption-free.