Generally speaking, corruption is understood to be a form of dishonesty or fraudulent conduct by those in power or a person entrusted with position and authority in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one’s personal gain. This understanding or definition of corruption is held by almost every one of us. Misappropriation or siphoning off of public funds, embezzlement, bribery, favouritism, nepotism and discrimination are some of the most recognized forms of corruption that strike our mind when we talk about corruption. Corruption erodes sustainable and inclusive development. What, then, is the cause of this all pervasive corruption and who is responsible for giving it a systemic form?
When we talk about checking corruption, we generally tend to ignore or underestimate the role that citizens play in sustaining and encouraging corruption. For most of us, the word corruption invokes the image of a politician or a bureaucrat or a government official misusing and abusing his power for personal gains. Popular acceptance or tolerance of corruption, in whatever forms, by the society is seldom taken into consideration when a question of corruption is raised. This behavior of the citizens in reality is the biggest reason why corruption has become all pervasive in the public offices. Misuse of public office for personal gain is rampant because the citizens tolerate it.
Citizens allow corruption to persist by supporting corrupt politicians, participating in electoral malpractices and by actively engaging in bribing bureaucrats and officials in various manners. The citizen is sustaining overall corruption by passively involving and tolerating it. A scientific study is required to properly study and understand the dynamics surrounding popular tolerance of corruption by the citizens.
According to Luigi Manzetti, who specializes in governance, corruption and market reforms, corruption takes place when there is weak or no checks and balances, when there is not self-restraint and when there is popular acceptance and tolerance of malfeasance. What he posits is relevant to our context. When was the last time that you heard of a corrupt official in Mokokchung being brought to trial for corruption? Rarely have we had one. There may be some personalities in the public offices who exercise self-restraint in abusing power for personal gain but it is hard to tell who. The most crucial is the third point presented by Manzetti – popular acceptance and tolerance of corruption. It will not be wrong to rue that corruption has become a way of life in our society because we accept and tolerate it.
Mokokchung Times