Jammu & Kashmir State Vigilance Organisation

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Conscience,   The Defense Against Corruption

                                                                                                                                 A.P.J Abdul Kalam

Conscience is the light of the Soul that burns with the chambers of our psychological heart. It is as real as life is. It raises the voice in protest whenever anything is thought of or done contrary to the righteousness. Conscience is a form of truth that has been transferred through our genetic stock in the form of the knowledge of our own acts and feelings as right or wrong.

            Conscience is also a great ledger where our offences are booked and registered. It is a terrible witness. It threatens, promises, rewards and punishes, keeping all under its control. If conscience stings once, it is an admonition, if twice, it is a condemnation. Cowardice asks, “ Is it safe ?” Greed asks, “Is there any gain in it ?” Vanity asks, “Can I become great ?” Lust asks, “Is there pleasure in it ?”. But conscience asks, “Is it right ?” Why have we become deaf to its voice ? Insensitive to its pricks ? Callous to its criticism? The answer is corruption.

            Corruption is an assault on consciousness. The habit of taking bribes and seeking favours has become very common. People holding important positions have developed inconsiderateness to their conscience. They pretend everything is alright. Do they not have any idea of the law of action and reaction ? Have they forgotten how impressions of the subconscious mind and their force work ? If you take bribes, your thoughts and actions are registered in the subconscious mind. Will you not be carrying forward your dishonesty to your next generations causing them great suffering ? It is painful reality that corruption has become a way of life affecting all aspects of living, personal as well as social. It is not merely the pecuniary corruption but other forms as well. Immoral ways of people holding high positions and handling power have taken away guilt from the minds of lesser mortals. What a dangerous situation ? A great civilization is endangered.

            A virtuous man alone can use the instrument of conscience. He alone can hear the inner voice of the soul clearly. In a wicked man this faculty is dead. The sensitive nature of his conscience has been destroyed by sin or corruption. Hence he is unable to discriminate right from wrong. Those who are leading organizations, business enterprises, institutions and governments, how can they be corrupt ? Is it not wise to have clean conscience and enjoy freedom from anxiety and all kinds of worries ? If you do wrong actions and sinful deeds and treat them lightly today, you will not hesitate to perform serious crimes tomorrow. If you allow one sin to enter and dwell in your conscience, you pave the way for the entry of thousand sins. Your conscience will become blunt and lose its sensitivity. The habit of doing evil deeds will pervade the whole body like the poison of a scorpion.

            Do you know when you are corrupt, your children who are indeed enjoying the fruits of your corruption are mocking at you ? After all they are well informed and knowledgeable. Your parental mask is too thin to hide the contempt of your children. You are no more the role model of your own children. Is this disgrace not enough ? Our society is fast reaching a stage where the immunity of conscience of people holding positions of consequence is challenged by the corruption, as HIV would do to the body of an AIDS patient. The corruption has seeped into every stream of our life-blood. Can we save ourselves as a civilization ?

            Spiritual leaders have evolved morals, codes and teachings of righteousness. Beautiful hymns, sounds and prayers have been written and composed. But the annihilation of conscience by corruption appears frightening. Religion has not been effective in evoking conscience. Who then will ? Can our conscience be redeemed ?

            A movement through the Foundation of Unity of Religious and Enlightenment of Citizenship (FUREC) against corruption has to be made as a new feature.

(Based on President Kalam’s interaction with Jain Muni Acharya Shri Mahapragya on his 86^th Birthday on July 4, 2005 in New Delhi.)

                                                                                    (Courtesy : The Hindu 7 July 2005)

Fight against corruption to continue: Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Jan 11: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today made it clear that his fight against corruption would continue with strong commitment notwithstanding the fact that the State would go through elections this year.

"Some people feel that the Assembly elections being round the corner, the Government might go slow on its war against corruption", Mr Azad said while delivering his speech at the 7th Conference of Departmental Vigilance Officers (DVO) organised by State Vigilance Organisation here and vehemently dispelled this view, saying his fight against the scourge would remain the core issue for his Government during 2008 as well. He said he wanted to see J&K as No. 1 transparent, accountable and honest State across the country.

He said there was no question of going back and made it clear that crusade against corruption would remain prime agenda of his Government. He said taking on corruption in the State was one of the main reasons for him to return to the State after being in national politics for three decades. He said he wanted to contribute his bit towards eradication of the menace in the State. He said some politicians and bureaucrats had developed apathy towards work culture and development activities as a corollary to the inertia and lethargy contracted due to literal hibernation they were in for several years of militancy in J&K.

Mr Azad asserted that he was committed to change this situation and asked the Vigilance Organization to go whole hog against the corrupt elements. He said the status or party affiliations of individuals would be no consideration in dealing with corrupt people. He said the Government had decided to replicate the Central Government’s Right to Information Act as it had strong teeth and would help make the State Government more accountable and transparent.

The Chief Minister took a serious view of the reports that some Departmental Vigilance Officers were drawing flak from their senior officers for exposing corruption in their departments and said the discouragement of these officers would be construed as tacit support to corruption. He said upright and honest whistle blowers helping the Government in bringing down corruption could be awarded out of turn promotion as encouragement.

Describing the trend as extremely unfortunate and a serious concern for the society, Mr Azad said that some corrupt officials after being caught and jailed for using corrupt practices to amass wealth try to fight elections and become people’s representatives and Ministers. He called for a serious and strong public opinion against such people and said that anybody so attempting to cover his misdeeds should even forfeit election deposit. "Unless such elements are taught a lesson by people, the Government efforts alone will not suffice", he said.

He called upon all politicians and Government officials in the State to rise to the occasion and deliver on the responsibilities thrown upon their shoulders by the society. He said public representatives and officers have to be extra cautious and offer an example for others to emulate. "The Caesar’s wife has to be above suspicion", he invoked Shakespeare to stress on the point that best examples have to be set at the top.

The Chief Minister alluded to his agenda for prosperous J&K and said that growth and development, the two thrust areas of his Government, were key for any State to prosper. He called for public support for his mission to see J&K as a developed and prosperous State.

Earlier, Mr Azad gave away mementos, certificates and cash prizes to officials and individuals for helping the Government in its war against corruption. Shyam Bijyal and Imam Din, Assistant Commissioner Development, Kathua and Ramban, respectively were given mementos and certificates while Altaf Hussain Teli, a contractor from Kulangam, Handwara and Mohammad Saleem Malla of Sangaldan, Gool received Rs. 51,000 cash award and certificate each. SP, Ashok Kumar and DySP, Ghulam Mohiuddin Andrabi of Vigilance Organisation were given CM’s Vigilance Medal for their contribution to drive against corruption. Shyam Bijyal dedicated this honour to his parents and teachers on the occasion.

Addressing the conference, Chief Secretary, B. R. Kundal laid stress on system change and greater involvement of people for effectively fighting corruption. He said there was need for more focus on prevention of the menace while dealing with the challenge.

Mr Kundal said that the role of the DVOs was a challenging one as it required being bold and upright for a person to function as a whistle blower. He said the Government would like to raise the level of DVOs and hoped the New Year would be more fruitful in combating corruption in the State. He hailed the idea of holding biennial conferences of DVOs and suggested that similar interactive meetings should be held at district level to create more awareness against corruption.

Earlier, State Vigilance Commissioner, Dr. Ashok Bhan in his welcome address gave a resume of the activities of his organization and said that offices of the organization would be set up at Leh, Poonch, Doda, Kupwara and Anantnag to bring in more effectiveness in its activities. He highlighted a mixture of preventive and punitive vigilance to check corruption and suggested that senior officers should be nominated as DVOs on full time basis.

Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, Principal Secretary, General Administration Department, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and senior civil and police officers were present.

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