Transparency International (India)
Chairman: Admiral Tahiliani (Retd.)

" If the political leadership is serious in tackling poverty as it professes, it has to deal with corruption first".

"Transparency International study is not at all surprising as some of the most significant legislations have not yet been passed. The Lok Pal Bill, declaration of assets by politicians, auditing of accounts of political parties, speedy trial of erring politicians, forfeiture of illegally acquired property and many other such legislations are in a limbo," says Admiral R.H. Tahiliani, former Governor and Chief of Naval Staff and now chairman of Transparency International [India] .

Tahiliani's utterances are buttressed by the fact that political leaders are not  willing to talk on the subject of corruption. Repeated attempts at getting in touch with Arun Shourie and Manmohan Singh---two of the most upright people in politics---drew a blank with the personal assistants of both saying their bosses were not interested in talking on the subject of corruption.

According to the study the main breeding ground for corruption is the Indian political system, which has been supported wholeheartedly by the  bureaucracy. Corruption, says the report, has reached such gigantic proportions because the electoral system is such that it requires sacks of money.

" When the bureaucrat sees that the politician is corrupt then there is no fear. Yatha Raja Tatha Praja [ what the king does, so do the people]. If the king is corrupt the population too will be corrupt," says Tahiliani.

According to the TI study there are perceptible linkages between poverty and corruption. " If the political leadership is serious in tackling poverty as it professes, it has to deal with corruption first," feels Admiral Tahiliani.

Many academicians say that socialism is the fountainhead of corruption in India. Since independence the state has had a say in everything If one wanted to start an industry one had to get a license, if one wanted to close it one needed a prior permission. If one wanted to increase production one had to inform the concerned ministry. It was the licence Raj that became the breeding ground for corruption.

Now , as the state begins easing its grip on basic necessities, corruption levels too are declining. Take, for example, the privatisation of power in Delhi. Under state control there were a spate of corruption charges against it. Now with privatisation, things are improving dramatically.

However, says Admiral Tahiliani, " Corruption abounds in areas where citizens have to interact with the state departments like the police, health, housing, taxes, municipalities or licenses for starting businesses."