Novel anti-corruption campaign launched

CHENNAI: Next time when you are asked to cough up extra money to get a driving licence or a birth certificate, shock the bribe-seekers with a 'zero rupee' note.

This is a novel campaign launched by '5th Pillar,' a non-profit non-governmental organisation formed to fight the common enemy of the nation -- corruption.

The 'zero rupee' note, which resembles an original thousand rupees note, is a sign of unwillingness to bribe. It has the picture of Mahatma Gandhi on it with a pledge "I promise to neither accept nor give bribe" printed both in English and Tamil. It also resolves to 'eliminate corruption at all levels.'

The rupee note has also been printed in Hindi and other regional languages to take up the campaign against corruption at the national level.

Founded recently by noted environmentalist and Exnora founder M B Nirmal, the NGO seeks to reduce the scale of corruption problem in the country by fostering attitudinal change among citizens and advocating the use of Right to Information (RTI) Act to ensure transparency in all governmental organisations.

Volunteers of the organisation have so far distributed 75,000 'zero rupee' notes among students in seven districts in Tamil Nadu as part of a month-long campaign "freedom from corruption" to coincide with the country's 60th year of independence. The students have also taken a pledge not to take or give bribe.

5th Pillar President Vijay Anand told that the organisation was creating awareness among the public about the use and salient features of RTI Act as it was a legal tool that would help check corruption and hold various government departments and agencies accountable.

The NGO has already registered many success stories. Nithya Srikumar, a house wife, has applied for a family card producing required documents along with. When she did not get any response even after three months, she visited the zonal office several times, only to be told that the printing work was in the process.

Meanwhile, she came to know about the 5th Pillar and the RTI Act and with the volunteers' guidance, she sent a memo to the zonal officer. "To our surprise, we received a call from the Zonal office, saying that our family card is ready and we can get it from the office at once," she says.

A scientist working at Kalpakkam Atomic power station, who was not able to get a judgement copy in his divorce case for more than six months, finally received it after wielding the tool of RTI Act.

Anand said corruption, the formidable enemy, could be successfully fought if all non-political organisations join together. "If all like-minded secular non-political organization ns join the coalition of '5th Pillar Front,' it will make a world of difference," he said.