A big danger to smooth governance looms large in the country with pervasive corruption across various walks of life.
A big danger to smooth governance looms large in the country with pervasive corruption across various walks of life. In order to keep citizens away from the cages of corruption, DNA initiated its anti-corruption campaign - ‘Grounding the corrupt’. The exhilarating response of our readers to this anti-graft campaign has reinforced the cause the campaign aims to serve. Citizens from all parts of the country are writing to DNA about their brush with corruption and red tape. This series highlights day-to-day corruption woes of ordinary citizens. It includes corruption involved in procuring basic tools like a ration card, passport or a driving license. This might well include corruption involved in either getting a birth or death certificate. The communication might also include a case of either a delayed or rejected income tax refund as also an insurance claim denied by the public sector insurer. To widen the scope you may also send us corruption or red tape episodes spanning small, medium and big business. DNA would ensure your identity is protected so long you present a genuine case backed by documentary evidence. Each case would be scrutinised for its veracity.
Case 1: Tenant’s woes
City: Chandausi, Uttar Pradesh
Name: Withheld
Department Concerned: Integrated Child Development Scheme, government of Uttar Pradesh
Case Study: This story is about a family which has been allegedly denied house rent due for 22 years by the tenant - government of Uttar Pradesh. As alleged by the complainant, the government of Uttar Pradesh rented their house to establish the office of Integrated Child Development Scheme but did not pay a single penny of the rent amount and electricity bills for a prolonged period of 22 years. “My father died at the age of 86 and desperately suffered last 15 years of his life in need of financial help as we were forcefully bullied and asked to pay all the maintenance,” further charged the complainant. The state government, which the complainant moved, is “mum on the issue for obvious reasons.”
Case 2: Salary Scam
City: Kishanganj (Bihar)
Name: Withheld
Department Concerned: Bihar State Electronics (BELTRON) and NIIT
Case Study: This is the case of a computer teacher at a secondary school in Kishanganj, Bihar, who alleged that he had been paid even less salary than a daily-waged labourer, that too for a period of about three years. When he raised his voice against this, his meagre salary was allegedly stalled. The complainant said that he was appointed under ‘Information and Communication Technology at School Project’ undertaken by BELTRON in collaboration with NIIT. He alleged that he was paid only Rs76 per da. BELTRON did not raise a voice against it. “BELTRON is equally involved in the corrupt practices of cutting short the salaries,” he charged. The state government has now ordered a probe and a report is awaited.
Case 3: Pension Stopped
City: Chattarpur (Madhya Pradesh)
Name: Withheld
Department Concerned: Bhopal Treasury
Case Study: A widow from Chattarpur (Madhya Pradesh) was allegedly deprived of her pension amount for a complete year just because she applied for an address transfer. As alleged by the complainant, the government officials at Bhopal treasury stopped her pension amount when she applied for an address transfer as she shifted from Chattarpur to her son’s residence in Bhopal. “I was subjected to continuous mental torture and humiliation and was also asked to pay bribe to the government officers for my own money,” alleged the complainant. Even after a year of repeated attempts of requesting the officials, justice has been denied to the complainant.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}