| Wikipedia defines corruption as, "impairment of | | | | a person is reluctant to practice self-restraint and |
| integrity, virtue or moral principle; depravity, | | | | indulges in wrong methods to achieve things which |
| decay, and/or an inducement to wrong by | | | | require patience and hard work to own. In this |
| improper or unlawful means, a departure from | | | | case, the person become slave of luxury (while |
| the original or from what is pure or correct, and | | | | he/she thinks the other way round) and |
| or an agency or influence that corrupts." | | | | completely deviates from the path of |
| The above definition is quite clear and we can | | | | righteousness. The people of fall in this category |
| very well understand from the above definition as | | | | are self-centered and never think of either the |
| to what exactly corruption is. In general speaking, | | | | people who are getting affected by their wrong |
| we say a person is corrupt when we find him/her | | | | doings nor do they hesitate in indulging anti-human |
| not fulfilling his/her obligations and indulging in | | | | and anti-national activities. |
| wrong practices. Corruption is omnipresent and | | | | Now let us figure out how to use Information to |
| quite prevalent in those societies where people | | | | combat the corruption First of all we need to |
| are not conscious of their rights and do not feel | | | | understand how the organizations indulge in |
| responsible towards the society or surrounding | | | | corruption? It is quite easy for the organizations |
| they are living in. | | | | to do so as they use our ignorance as their best |
| The root cause of corruption is wearing away of | | | | tactic. Whenever we go to some office to get |
| moral values and most importantly, our | | | | our work done we normally are not aware of the |
| compromise with the negative situation i.e. we | | | | work flow in that office. To get our work done |
| accept it as a way of life. Our life is so fast that | | | | speedily we either pay bribe or take the help of |
| we don't have time for anything else. If we land in | | | | touts. Now imagine a situation where we are well |
| a situation which is stopping us to achieve our goal | | | | acquainted with the work flow. Will you take the |
| we immediately hold the hands of corruption to | | | | help of a middleman? Will you pay bribe? The |
| get to the other side. In doing so, we often | | | | answer is big NO. |
| forget and undermine the consequences. | | | | E-governance can be very well used to |
| According to me corruption can be classified in | | | | accomplish it. Every organization can provide the |
| two groups: | | | | necessary information on its website using which |
| 1) Need based corruption | | | | any person can get his problem solved without |
| 2) Greed based corruption | | | | requiring anyone's help. If the information seeker |
| Need based corruption - It arises when there is | | | | feel that some information is left out then he/she |
| large disparity in the income of people. They may | | | | may use Right to Information Act (to know more |
| belong to either same office or same nation. The | | | | about it, refer to my article "Right to Information |
| person with high income can afford all the | | | | Act India")to obtain it. By putting information |
| necessities of life whereas the person with low | | | | online, the role of touts is completely abolished i.e. |
| income is not able to do so. In this situation, the | | | | they don't come in picture who play a major role |
| person with low income indulges in corruption but | | | | in corruption cycle. Moreover, by putting the |
| the cause for this scenario is his/her needs. Since | | | | information online the departments can very well |
| the person was not able to fulfill his needs so he | | | | communicate any updating done thereby keeping |
| she put aside the honesty and follow the path of | | | | the functioning of the system quite transparent. |
| corruption. But this corruption may be short lived | | | | When all updated information is put on a website, |
| as the person may feel uncomfortable because | | | | then no one can indulge in corruption and the |
| of his/her conscience. Moreover, the person may | | | | delay in any process can immediately be |
| try to compensate his/her wrong doings by doing | | | | recognized and steps can be taken to remove it |
| some good under-cover and keeping in mind that | | | | or overhaul the system, as the case may be. |
| he/she never indulges in such practices which | | | | In the concluding part I would like to say that by |
| may seriously harm the society. | | | | being transparent every organization not only |
| Greed based corruption - As the name suggests, | | | | facilitates people connected to it but also help |
| the underlying cause of this type of corruption is | | | | itself by creating a good image in the eyes of |
| "greed". In terms of corruption, it can be defined | | | | public and act responsibly. The role information |
| as deep selfish desire for money, power, status | | | | can't be undermined and I think it's the best way |
| and materialistic things. It arises from within when | | | | to fight corruption. |