Do we really need an Ombudsman organization?

Certainly Anna Hazare is an icon of the angst being felt by every Indian. Kudos to “Team Anna” for making the Indian government writhe. But the question we need to ask ourselves is “Will the deeply rooted corruption wane just by creating a new ombudsman organization or by increasing the scope of existing anticorruption ombudsman organization? In line with an anonymous quote: “Egg broken from outside is death while broken from inside is birth”, for every individual the thought to create corrupt free India must come from within and not be imposed by an organization. It should be an ethical responsibility of every individual to lead a corrupt free life. If there is a “to” there is a “from” and likewise if there is a “recipient” there must be a “giver”. It is time for some serious united action from the givers (bribers). The phrase “united action” needs to be emphasized because a few good souls here and there resisting corruption will not address the problem. I hereby put forth the following agenda for all the Indians:

1. New driving license seekers should refuse to pay anything more than the application fee.

2. Newly married couples should refuse to pay anything more than the application fee to obtain their marriage certificate.

3. No bribe should be given to obtain birth and death certificates.

4. Homeowners should not succumb to the government officials’ tactic of getting money upfront and reducing the yearly property tax.

5. Travelers should not pay bribe to upgrade or procure additional ticket in buses or trains.

6. Parents should not pay any capital fee for schools or colleges. Management fee is also bribery and in most cases it goes to politicians who run these institutions.

7. Government job seekers should not pay money or take shortcuts to get the government jobs.

8. No household should pay extra money to get their monthly government allocated ration supplies.

9. No one should pay extra money for medical supplies and treatments at government hospitals.

10. File the yearly income tax in an accurate and timely manner.

The above steps will at least pave a way to eliminate corruption at the level of common people who are the roots of the society. If the root is disease free, the tree will yield better fruits, provided it is watered well.