6 TheIndianEXPRESS EXPRESSNewsline I NEW DELHI I TUESDAY I DECEMBER 9 I 2008 www.expressindia.com

A SCHOOLS’ INITIATIVE FROM THE INDIAN EXPRESS

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “Your ‘No’ Counts” Message on International Anti-Corruption Day, We invited students to express their views against corruption in an essay writing competition titled December 9, 2008 CORRUPTION — YOUR NO COUNTS on the occasion of Anti-Corruption Day in association with UNODC & Uni Style Image

SAY NO TO IF WE THINK LET’S TRY AND CORRUPTION WE CAN, WE GIVE IT A WILL FIGHT NO. A two letter word which indicates denial or refusal. CORRUPTION. A word that everyone loves to hate WE HAD shifted to Gurgaon a few weeks back. We 1No I don’t want to eat that. 2 3 but no one comes forward to eradicate it. Why? We needed a gas connection so my father contacted a No I don’t want those clothes. grumble about corruption but don’t take any steps to dealer. He demanded 10% extra and said “ kya kare No I don’t want this car. eradicate this evil? Instead of removing it, we rather sahib, upar wale manageron ki pockets to garam karni No I don’t want this government. promote it on a day to day basis by being a part of the hi padti hai”. My father was not as astounded as I No I don’t want to pay bribe.But wait , will you ever say that? chain some way or the other. Moreover, we refuse to was. My little brother accompanying us asked me VIENNA, December 9 (UN Information Ser- Will we ever refuse to pay a bribe to get work done?...Well it accept any responsibility and keep on feeding this di- “Di, what did he mean by “pocket garam vice) – The world is reeling from a global fi- doesn’t seem so...why wont I?.After all everything happens nosaur more and more. Corruption has already eaten karna”……is he going to light up a fire or what??” nancial crisis, caused in part by greed and cor- so easily and fast when you pay a bribe...but wait...what hap- into our morality. It is an impairment of integrity, Indeed, how can a child, merely three-year-old, ruption. Confidence in the financial system pens to the rules then?...What happens to protocol?...What virtue and moral principles. understand the Frankenstein of corruption which has been battered. The integrity of many banks happens to the scale of corruption in our country? Look what Our hungry hands have compelled manufacturers has spread its roots deeply in a so-called legitimate, has been called into question. Many people you have done to the ideals of Gandhi and other freedom to come up with counterfeit products. We have shops accountable and democratic form of Government? have lost their life savings. fighters. My country is still not free. selling illegal, duplicate and pirated commodities at The fight against corruption is tough. But as in This is bad enough, yet another, silent fi- India is terrorised, shaken...and damaged. At least we every nook and corner and we are their ready buyers. 1857, we need to realize and resurge the potential to nancial crisis afflicting the world’s poorest are waking up from our slumber now. These attacks could They bribe the policemen, they bribe the officials revolt and repel within us and feed it with motiva- people attracts far less attention. Every year have been avoided.We didn’t require any help from the of the concerned authority in order to ensure smooth tion, perseverance and of course, thoughtfulness. across the developing world, billions of dol- heavens. All that was required was for people to do what running of their businesses. One can visit any shop in Wake Up!! The Complacent Indian, lars that are badly needed for health care, they are supposed to do.The police, the intelligence, the Sarojini Nagar and pick any Puma, Nike or Reebok And choose the path of what is right schools, clean water and infrastructure are navy, the coastguard,the Home Ministry and the Govern- merchandise (correction — the ‘fake’ merchandise). Let’s at least try and give it a fight. stolen or lost through bribes and other mis- ment. All they were supposed to do was their duty, their Well this is a hub for many youngsters to shop at. Not Come - on! India deeds. This makes it harder to provide basic job for which they are paid. only garments but one can find top of the line Show the word around services and achieve the Millennium Devel- But they didn’t, the intelligence reports,the repeated watches and shoes at Ghaffar Market, again the du- Shoo! Away the monster of corruption opment Goals. It denies people their funda- threats and the information was still struggling to find its plicate ones! Well, there’s more. You can even buy Because in the end mental human rights. way through corrupt officials , through their dusty desks , your favorite PSP and computer games at throw away It is your “NO” that Counts. The United Nations is fighting back. The through their heavy pockets and finally it landed on the prices at Karol Bagh and pirated software from UDITA MAKHIJA UN Convention against Corruption, which streets. It terrorised the common man, it killed hundreds, Nehru Place. X A, Blue Bells Model Sr. Secondary School, came into force in December 2005, contains it destroyed our trust. I demand an answer to the questions Smuggled goods are sold as their is a huge demand Gurgaon strong measures for building integrity and that those people were asking when they were being shot at. I for them. But the fact is that this parasite of corrup- fighting corruption that apply to both the demand an answer to what their families are asking. I de- tion is feeding on our economy. The pillar of econ- public and private sectors. There is an urgent mand an answer to a question in each citizen’s mind: Why? omy which supports our country and its population is Other Notable Contributions By need to make the Convention work and be- Why didn’t the concerned organisations act on the infor- weakening. And who is to be blamed?? IT’S US! The come the global norm. I look forward to the mation being given to them and treat it seriously? It is only in- Consumers! „ Pushkar Sinha, XII C , Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar, establishment of a robust mechanism to re- telligence failure and corruption which has led terrorism to The youth are the future of the country! The mini- „ Megha Chopra, VIII A, Delhi Public School, Sushant Lok view the implementation of the Convention, seep into our system to a level where now we think that the mum we can do is to stop it at our level. Just celebrat- „ Lipika Sukhija,XII ,New State Academy Sr.Sec.School,Pitampura which is expected to be adopted by the next whole system needs to be changed. conference of States Parties. ing Anti-Corruption Day on 9th December won’t „ Jackson Thomas,XI-A,Don Bosco School, We as the future of this country have to wake up to the real- help. Firm action needs to be taken. Stop purchasing The global financial crisis also underlines „ Dona Mathew,IX,Holy Child Auxilium School, Vasant Vihar ity and realise that we can not take this any longer.The sys- pirated software, videogames and counterfeit mer- the need for greater regulation. Under the tem has to be changed and we will change it. Corruption has chandise! Stop back door entry into colleges! We are „ Jyotsna Narang, XII, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vasant Vihar, Convention, bank secrecy is no longer an im- seeped into our minds and created a world where there are the leaders of tomorrow! Our little contribution can „ Anshu Jaiswal, IX-A, Kalka Public School, Alaknanda pediment to recovering stolen assets. The no rules to be followed and no laws to be obeyed. Everything make a huge difference. Let us take a stand against „ Dipanshu Gupta,VIII-A,Tagore International School,Vasant Vihar World Bank and the UN Office on Drugs and here happens when you show money.This year alone around corruption! „ Priansha Periwal, XII-C, Lancer’s Convent School, Rohini Crime are making important progress in help- 15 thousand crore rupees have lost their way from our pock- ing States to get their money back through the Your ‘NO’ does count! I dream of an India ten „ Jasmeen, XI A, Bharti Public School, Mayur Vihar ets to the places and have unfortunately found their way into years down the line, free from corruption, bribery, Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative. „ Amit Shaji, XII B, Bharti Public School, Mayur Vihar the pockets of corrupt officials. piracy and forgery! A successful democracy! And this It is not only governments and financial in- We have to make sure such instances do not happen and dream can be achieved! Because ‘If we think we can, „ Priyanka Kapruwan, XII A, Bharti Public School, Mayur Vihar stitutions that need to do more to prevent for that we have to learn to say no to corruption.My country we will!’ „ Meenakshi Pandey, XII A, Bharti Public School, Mayur Vihar corruption and strengthen integrity. Corrup- and its citizens deserve a better future, a place where there is VANI MEHRA „ Mohit Chhibber, XI - A, K.R. Mangalam World School, Vikas Puri tion affects us all. It weakens democratic in- peace and where law has a say. stitutions, undermines the rule of law and en- XI- Commerce, Tagore International School, „ Karan Talwar, XI - A ,G.D.Goenka Public School, Vasant Kunj B AAKASH Vasant Vihar ables terrorists to finance their nefarious VIII-B, St Paul’s School, SDA Hauz Khas work. On this International Day, let us all do our part to strengthen integrity, play by the rules, and turn the tide against this global menace. As UNODC’s anti-corruption cam- paign states, your “no” counts. EXCERPTS... time choosing the best three from the cartload of entries. Our CORRUPTION – COPS AND ROBBERS HINDU TERROR JUST POWER OF VOTERS THE RICH AND THE heartiest congratulations THE OMNIPRESENT THE DOOR bell rang. My AS BAD IT IS high time. The public UNSCRUPULOUS to the winners. A special PHENOMENON mother ushered in a police ENOUGH! Enough! Its must realize that their CORRUPTION. The one mention to those students CORRUPTION is a global officer who was visiting our turned the beautiful la- voice holds relevance in word that makes most peo- who just missed it by a lit- phenomenon. This evil is residence for verification as I goon into a filthy gutter…. our democratic setup. In ple sit back and groan, and tle margin.Be on the look- We would like prevalent in every corner, had recently applied for a .Let’s take a look at the India, citizens have the think about the ever in- out for more such contests to thank schools for their every sphere of social, passport. Dressed in khaki swamp that we live in. One right to choose their own creasing problems in in the weeks to economic, political and with a stick under his arm of the most outrageous leaders, but for this, they today’s world. No overwhelming response/ come…….. even religious activity and a walkie-talkie in the things that happened in re- need to rightly assess the politician worth his participation in the essay that should have been other, the officer walked in, cent times and that was a worth, efficiency and dedi- revered “khadi” will writing competition. We had a free from corruption. looking quite disinterested. mighty blow to India’s sec- cation of the Government ever admit to there being tough Don’t we also bribe the “Show me the documents”, ular credentials was the towards their country. anything wrong with the God with all sorts of he ordered. One by one we Gujarat Riots of 2002. Each citizen must cast his political affairs of the coun- gifts? Like the air we showed him all documents Tehelka, the newspaper vote. Public protests and try. No influential business- TIME FOR IT’S ALL ABOUT MONEY breathe corruption has — the residence proof, tele- that provided the contro- discussions must take man or other powerful per- INTROSPECTION become all pervasive and phone bills, school verifica- versial expose rightfully place to raise voice sonalities will ever confess FIGHTING legal battles is a major headache these entered every aspect of tion, birth certificate. His irri- called it ‘not a sponta- against corruption. Citizen to any wrong means they IN PUBLIC Sector corrup- days. Witnesses don’t speak up. Judges are par- our life to such an extent tated and impatient neous swell of anger but a Journalism should be prac- might have used to attain tion generates economic tial. Trials take forever and the ‘policewallahs’ are that it is now regarded as behaviour added to the hush genocide’ planned and ex- ticed and encouraged to the level of success that distortions by diverting anything but helpful. In such a scenario, warming a fact of life and an evil - hush and the panic in my ecuted by top functionaries report personal views of a they have. Signs of corrup- the public money into cap- the pockets of authorities helps. But before we we have to live with. house. It was obvious that of the Sangh Parivar and citizen through cell tion exist everywhere.They ital intensive projects give in to the system, we must take a moment where bribes and kick- and think: Is it right for us to do that and have we In fact a time has come he was trying to find faults, state authorities ‘with the phones and Internet to the are everywhere — be it the backs are plentiful.In the lost our conscience. From netas to babus to the when very few eyebrows unsatisfied with something sanction’ of Chief Minister entire country. The Gov- Mr. Moneybags who private sector, corruption SHOs to peons to judges, everyone is corrupt. are raised when we are — that I didn’t know. Then I Narendra Modi. And to the ernment must be made to throws his money around increases the cost of busi- Money talks...... informed of a case of a saw my father offering him shock of the entire nation, realize that power lies in [just so that his name does- ness through the illicit bribe. two notes of hundred ru- Modi was believed to have the hands of citizens. n’t get splashed on the AINA SINGH, payments. VIII - C, Modern School, Barakhamba Road NUPUR KHANNA, pees. I later asked, “When patted the backs of all ANKITA NAGPAL, next morning’s front page It is time to think about XI-D, VVDAV Public we had produced all the these squalid criminals. XI-D, St. Mark’s School, newspaper.] or even what is happening around School, Vikas Puri right documents, then why PRASANNA Meera Bagh Mr.Slimy in nightclubs, A GROWING EPIDEMIC us and look inwards. did we bribe him?” My fa- BALAKRISHNAN, who hints at “certain TAI-CHAN, Yoga and meditation may have ther said, “This is how things XI-B, Don Bosco School, favours” in exchange for SHEETAL SRIVASTAVA, taken many to the path of nirvana but watch- are done in India.” Alaknanda jobs. IX - B, Cambridge ing a ‘Babu’ count hundreds of notes of Rs 50/-, ADITI SINGH, AISHWARYA Foundation School, may burn a person to the soul. Corruption has XI - C, Springdales School, BORGOHAIN, Rajouri Garden been spreading like an epidemic. Pusa Road VIII - A, DPS Sushant Lok People like H D Shourie, may fight for the cause of honesty but then, corruption is a disease that Street play against corruption enacted has spread to the very core of our society. by Asmita Theatre Group at IHC on POOJA ARORA, December 7, 2008, Supported by UNODC XI - F, Lancers Convent School Rohini and The Indian Express