As per transparency international; corruption is defined as the misuse of entrusted

power for private gain or use of public office for private gain. India is amongst the most
corrupt countries in the world. India has been ranked 95
th
out 192 countries by
Transparency international
Corruption in the Indian society has prevailed from time immemorial in one form or the
other. The basic inception of corruption started with our opportunistic leaders who have
already done greater damage to our nation. People who work on right principles are
unrecognized and considered to be innocent in the modern society. Earlier, bribes were
paid for getting wrong things done, but now bribe is paid for getting right things done at
right time. Further, corruption has become something respectable in India, because
person occupying high offices are involved in it.
Combating corruption has emerged as a key developmental issue. More and more
policy makers, jurist , civil society organizations and citizens, have begun to confront
the issue openly. Corruption adversely affects countrys economic development, and
becomes a national threat to national security. It adds to the deprivation of the poor and
weaker sections of society. This universal ill affects all of us.
Corruption has a corrosive impact on our economy. It worsens our image in
international arena and leads to loss of cross national opportunities.
Transparency International India:
Transparency International India (TII) is the accredited India chapter of Transparency
International, an international civil society organization based at Berlin that has turned
the fight against corruption into a worldwide movement. TIIs vision is to create a
corruption-free India, so that the poor do not lose their voice to corruption. TIIs priority
areas are good governance, research, capacity building, communication and advocacy,
participatory monitoring, engaging with Government, private sector and NGOs.
Transparency International's effort in fight against corruption
TI has defined five global priorities in the fight against corruption:
Corruption in politics Corruption in public contracting
Corruption in the private sector International anti-corruption conventions
Poverty and development
Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is the best known of
our tools. First launched in 1995, it has been widely credited with putting the issue of
corruption on the international policy agenda. The CPI ranks almost 200 countries by
their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion
surveys.
The Global Corruption Barometer is a survey that assesses general public attitudes
toward, and experience of, corruption in dozens of countries around the world.
The TI Bribe Payers Index evaluates the supply side of corruption - the likelihood of
firms from the worlds industrialized countries to bribe abroad.
Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres (ALACs)
Transparency Internationals Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres (ALACs) provide free
and confidential legal advice to witnesses and victims of corruption. Offering a simple,
credible and viable mechanism for citizens to pursue their corruption-related complaints,
ALACs empower citizens in the fight against corruption. ALACs also play a critical role
identifying corruption hotspots that demand reform or official action. Harnessing the
powerful, real life data gathered by ALACs on the consequences and
mechanisms of corruption, Transparency International (TI) chapters engage in
strategic advocacy to bring about systemic change in public policy and practice.
The ALAC approach is already successfully used by TI National Chapters in more
than 50 countries.
Integrity Pact
Integrity Pact is a tool (Supported by Central Vigilance Commission) that helps
the government, businesses and civil society to fight against corruption in public
contracting and procurement. The integrity pact consists of a process of signing
an agreement between the government or a government public sector
undertakings and bidders for a public sector company. It contains commitments
to the effect that neither side will pay, offer, demand or accept bribes or collude
with competitors to obtain the contract. Sanctions will apply in case of violations.
Integrity Pact provides for the appointment of Independent External Monitors
(IEMs) who are supposed to monitor the contract and look out for deviations.
These monitors are of impeccable integrity and are appointed by the Central
Vigilance Commission (CVC). Further, the PSUs are supposed to give details of
IEMs on their website so that in case of any grievance the bidder can complain to
the IEM.
TII has signed Integrity Pact with 45 PSUs till now.
We have tolerated corruption for so long. The time has now come to root it out
completely.