Fight against corruption – Infrastructure contracts and tenders
Do you know who constructed the road outside your home? How did he/she get the contract and the guidelines/standards meant to be followed?
Corruption and violence go hand in hand; can we break the chain?
The answer is sadly unsurprising. And this is just the tip of a massive iceberg, across India. From village panchayats to metros, no one knows when a tender is floated, how to apply, eligibility and who won it.
Like in the movies of the 1980s, the template for infrastructure corruption hasn’t shockingly changed, and is a case of taking the public for granted – making a fool of too many for too long. Roads, bridges, etc, have always remained neglected, especially the state highways and roads in small towns and cities.
All of a sudden, usually in anticipation of elections, a stranger comes with a small group of workers and a few machines who work with amazing urgency that prohibits anyone from asking any question. Upon a closer look, you will find that the “stranger” is usually a local goonda (yes, the ones that were the worst of creatures when you were toiling in college unsure of what the future held for you) of the yore – now silently involved in a corruption ladder that goes up high like Jack’s beanstalk.
One fine morning (if you are lucky), the road is built, but it is clear it wont last for more than a few months. And the cycle is thus complete – that of your taxes flowing into the pockets of a few rapidly, in crores. Why the hell were you toiling in school and college, when you could have picked up a bicycle chain and made a fantastic career without leaving your parents alone?
At the heart of this pathetic corruption is government contracts and tenders – from the panchayat level to state and national level. That’s what these goons are assured of when they pick up a knife, or abuse in public or form a gang during school/college days – no matter which party they later get affiliated to – they just get to take turns in looting the country and your hard-earned money.
This infrastructure corruption is a vast but serious problem, and in this Reader’s Impact feature, we are looking for creative suggestions and information on potential corruption in your village, town or city.
Can a 100% online tendering process be of any aid? It is time to bell the cat; send us your comments, suggestions and likely corruption to reader@mddtimes.com (or feedback@mddtimes.com) and we will publish it within this article after minimal vetting. All inputs will be kept confidential.
Send your comments to feedback@mddtimes.com
