Today, I was discussing about corruption and Anna Hazare’s movement with one of my friends.
In My last post every where we are saying, that to change the system we must change ourselves and now I realize that this is IMPOSSIBLE.
Here are the 2 examples he gave:
1. Mumbai – Where people follow the rules, but when there is no rule, they do not follow them. Like there is a rule that you have to stand in a queue while boarding the bus, so people do the same. On the other hand, there is no as such rule while boarding the local train, so the same people will push you like mad. So we only respect the system, when the system force us to do something, otherwise, we do not even worry about the society.
2. Consider US of A: There is a fine of $250 (or something like this) if a cigarette bud is found outside your house. If you are not doing lane driving there are heavy penalties. Heavy penalties on crossing street on red light and so many other fines.
Repeat offense fines. And cancellation of your official document (may be driving license or some other document) so the system there is forcing people to follow the rule. No doubt people are rich over there, but again they cannot pay $250, over even if they try to bribe the officer, even then they will have to pay $100 to $150, which again they cannot afford to pay every time. So they are bound to follow the law and after repeated offense, the offender will go to jail.
So they are actually not asking people to change, they have a system in place, which is actually forcing people to change and not to do anything wrong.
I considered US because, most of us in India, Consider US as a benchmark.
Then I discussed about the high level corruption in India. Then he said that this happens at all the places, you cannot stop that and bringing in Lokpal do not assure that the corruption will not happen. But Lokpal will monitor the corruption at high level and make sure that they penalize the corrupt heavily. I do agree to all of his points,
So the conclusion is:
YOU CANNOT CHANGE PEOPLE, BUT CAN BUILT A SYSTEM, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY FORCE THE PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEMSELVES.
August 21, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Well, i dont’t completely agree with what you said. You talked about Mumbai and USA. First of all, what you talked about Mumbai, just doesn’t happen in only Mumbai. This happens all over our country, and the main reason behind this is illiteracy, lack of awareness, and in our country people have become so impatient these days. You also talked about USA, see the thing is i agree that there are heavy fines if do something wrong, thus people follow rules properly. But at the same time now they are habitual of this, and children see these things and follow those rules. Over the time, people get habitual of not breaking rules, if you had strict rules and fines in the past. Thus, this is what our country require.
August 21, 2011 at 9:14 pm
@Vicky: completely agree with you…
August 22, 2011 at 2:39 am
@Vicky – So till we do not implement a system, that will force them to remain in law at all the times, we cannot expect the next generation to become habitual of not breaking rules.
And Mumbai tells us that, we are ready to follow rules, if we have no other option. Also, you said that this is happens all over the country. So we require a system and a strong system.