The Last Post of Corruption in India The Indian Army, Navy & Air Force have had a relatively clean public image for long time. Even today the services officers and jawans are held in high esteem and respected for their valuable contribution to the service of the nation. While one would tend to look at a police officer or constable with sort of under the surface contempt for possibility of being corrupt, the same ire does not come to mind when one sees a defence officer or a jawan. In fact they do inspire people for their valor, sacrifice, discipline and ability to take on any adverse situation like floods, earth quakes, or other natural calamities. Even after 60 plus years of radio, the Jay Mala program of All India Radio still inspires millions of civilians as well as defence personnel. Since the corruption in India is all pervasive, it is difficult to imagine that defence departments will be any exceptions. Nevertheless, the cases of level of corruption and scandals of misappropriation of funds coming to surface have been at much lower levels than their civilian counterparts. The cases which would be on top of mind like Bofors and the HDW submarines would be few and far between. Also they have political linkages if not patronage and therefore have to be seen more as civilian deals than defence. We have had some relatively clean ministers of defence also. So, for any scandals, it is overall political system which has to be responsible and accountable. But what have come as a shock are the cases of high level corruption in army involving kind of a civilian transaction, not involving defence equipments or materials, but land valued at Rs. 290 Crores in Darjeeling. The extent of interests of the officers is not yet established or published. This in fact is pea nuts compared to the new bench mark of Rs. 4000 crores set by Madhu Koda, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The public is used to such figures in civilian domain. What separates the army and Madhu Koda is that the officers of army are appointed employees where as Madhu Koda was elected representative of people. Madhu Koda is supposed to have set highest standard of morality in public life. The Army enquiry has reportedly recommended termination of services of Lt.General Avadhesh Prakash, Military Secretary at Army HQ and court marshal proceedings against Lt.General P.K. Rath who was being
considered for post of Dy.Chief of Army Staff. Others under scanner are Lt.General Ramesh Halgali and Major General P. Sen. Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor has to take decisions on these issues now. Mr.A.K. Anthony, the Defence Minister, has had consultations with Gen. Kapoor on this issue and hope that due actions would be taken in the best interests of the nation. There may be many similar situations involving land deals or land grabs in the civilian domain. Even a village sarpanch can be found to have grabbed land and so it is the land mafia which supports or gets into political system. It may be difficult to find large land deals of politicians without favours or frauds. So the political establishment has little to show the army any good examples to follow. Army establishment would do well to set a good example for the politicians and the bureaucrats to follow. Let them not try to don spotless white pajamakurtas which have come to symbolize as new garb of corruption. Let the uniforms not lower the guard on the doors of morality. The uniforms put a great responsibility and onus, of protecting not only the nation but also the national values, on the persons donning the same. The police officers in uniform have tarnished their image beyond white wash due to subservience to their political masters. It is so not only in the matter of financial frauds but all the levels and facets of morality. I have not kept any count but almost every month we read about DGP, IG or similar level of officers involved in some or the other scandal or headlines for wrong reasons. Even the bureaucrats also are let off lightly in similar situations. Fortunately for the armed forces, the interface with politicians is not at all the levels but only at select top levels with the result that they can operate within their own discipline with greater commitment. They have advantages of having a system which is relatively isolated and has better discipline and respect for authority. It is time for the armed forces to strengthen their value system as well as punishment system so that they can stand tall with courage & conviction expected out of them by the masses without casting a single vote in their favour. Let them manage deficiencies in their value system better than their counterparts. Let them be sure that if & when there is a call
for duty, a billion votes are with them. Business enterprises have a lot to learn about strategic management from the armed forces. I wonder why political establishment can not take a lesson or two from them to stop erosion in national ethos and values. It is for this reason that all eyes are at General Kapoor for his decisions to uphold high standards and values. As the year 2009 draws to a close, it will be remembered for considerable erosion in our value systems as reflected by Satyam Computers, Liberhans Commission Report, Madhu Koda, Singur, Swiss Bank accounts, CVC’s list of 123 officers on watch list, CRPF Scam, Pradhan Committee report on handling of 26/11, Chief Justice Dinakaran of Karnataka, and Haryana DGP S.P.S.Rathod among others. Are we ready to learn from these experiences to welcome 2010? I wish all my readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2010. Vijay M. Deshpande Corporate Advisor, Strategic Management Initiative, Pune. December 25, 2009 Scroll down for my other blogs Or visit www.strami.com