Corruption in elections has to be addressed: Civil society groups

05 August, 2012

Irrespective of the success or failure of Team Anna's movement, the civil society groups will continue to strive for strong Lokpal Bill and will take up any public issue. In a discussion, it was opined that the civil society movements should impact the system and the electoral process to control corruption.

CIVIL SOCIETY organizations of Andhra Pradesh, under the aegis of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) met at Sundarayya Vigyan Kendram, to discuss the subject of “Tackling Corruption – the role of Civil Society”. Post Team Anna’s agitation – 2, there were different versions floating in the media and public about the movement.

One version is that Anna’s movement has failed; the other is that they have withdrawn strategically to float a political party. By saying, Anna’s movement has failed, it is being attributed that the whole civil society has failed. Irrespective of Anna’s movement’s failures or success, it was felt that the civil society groups will continue to strive for strong Lokpal and will take up any public issue.

Many civil society representatives and youth from IAC have deliberated on the issue of corruption and on ways to curtail it, through civil society activism. It was opined that the civil society movements should impact the system and the electoral process to control corruption.

It was felt that they should continue the main role of empowering people to achieve the perceived goals of corruption free system. The concise points that came out from the vibrant discussions, according to a statement were:

- Anna’s movement’s success or failure should not be attributed to the entire civil society. Civil society has a vast definition and its not just a person or a group of persons; it can be any number of groups or individuals working for public causes.

- Given the situation of the country - politically, economically and socially, the people’s movements should vigorously work to empower people to achieve the targeted goals, regarding various issues prevailing in the country.

- The civil society should impact the system and the electoral process from where the malaise of corruption is being produced. Unless the root cause which is producing the problems is addressed, viz., “corruption in elections” there will not be a long term change/ solution. Thus, while we support any new initiative to combat corruption, we believe that the political, economic systems have to be cleansed to bring about long term impact.

B.Ramakrishanam Raju (Convener NAPM-AP), Dr. Rao Chelikani (U-FERWAS), T.L. Narsimha Rao (Co-ordinator, Lok Satta Organisation), Uppala Gopala Rao (Praja Alochana Vedika), Garimella Narayana (Founder Member, NAPM), Saraswati Kavula & Sashank Rajwadi (NAPM - AP) and many other concerned citizens and IAC members spoke on the occasion.