Recently Union Defence Minister AK Antony made a comment that India was passing through a “transparency revolution” and that the walls of secrecy were crumbling in every field including politics, business, judiciary and administration. Indeed we are going through a time when transparency and an open government is what people are expecting. This year in particular, we have seen a mass movement taking shape against corruption. The government of the day and the political class cutting across party lines are now being forced to take on corruption from within. Along with civil society, the UPA government at the Centre is working on a Lok Pal Bill to be presented in Parliament soon. No one would have expected such urgency in tackling corruption when the year 2011 began. Due credit must go to the people of India and also the mass anti-corruption crusade undertaken by civil society particularly Anna Hazare. Hopefully such public pressure on our political class will bring about greater accountability and transparency in the way our country is being governed. However as the Union Minister has also rightly stated, our society is not yet ready for this transition. In fact for too long our government system which we inherited from the British has been functioning on the basis of the official’s secret act. Attempt has been made to do away with this but the reform process have been slow and frustrating. Nevertheless one can take heart from the fact that the transparency revolution has really started and it is not anymore a question of what and if but when. As Mr Antony correctly put it, once the walls of secrecy have started crumbling “this trend cannot be stopped mid-way”.
In a country and tradition like India, change will not be sudden or even bloody. Democracy is about dialogue and peaceful transition and the current discourse on tackling corruption should be taken to its logical conclusion through change in mindset and systems. As already mentioned, since we do not have a culture of accountability (among politicians and bureaucrats) and transparency in governance, there will be resistance in the beginning. However it is only expected that the reform process or the so called “transparency revolution will percolate to all walks of human life”. It is only in recent years that people are openly talking about corruption and what is noticed is that patience is running out. A sense of urgency has suddenly overtaken the usually lethargic public. Nagaland is today known as one of the most corrupt. The people of the State and its government cannot be an exception to the winds of change taking place beyond our borders. Our civil society in particular the Church should be actually doing more in the fight against corruption. Already at the Centre, the Prime Minister, Ministers, IAS officials etc are now expected to declare their assets in the public domain. A notice to this effect has also been circulated to the States. As the Opposition Leader in the State Assembly, has publicly stated, whether our Christian State of Nagaland can be a role model for others to emulate with the Chief Minister, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries declaring their assets. That will no doubt be a big and difficult challenge to achieve for any politician in Nagaland whether past or present, Congress or NPF. But the writing on the wall is clear—a transparency revolution is already on its way. It is just a matter of time and we should be prepared.
In a country and tradition like India, change will not be sudden or even bloody. Democracy is about dialogue and peaceful transition and the current discourse on tackling corruption should be taken to its logical conclusion through change in mindset and systems. As already mentioned, since we do not have a culture of accountability (among politicians and bureaucrats) and transparency in governance, there will be resistance in the beginning. However it is only expected that the reform process or the so called “transparency revolution will percolate to all walks of human life”. It is only in recent years that people are openly talking about corruption and what is noticed is that patience is running out. A sense of urgency has suddenly overtaken the usually lethargic public. Nagaland is today known as one of the most corrupt. The people of the State and its government cannot be an exception to the winds of change taking place beyond our borders. Our civil society in particular the Church should be actually doing more in the fight against corruption. Already at the Centre, the Prime Minister, Ministers, IAS officials etc are now expected to declare their assets in the public domain. A notice to this effect has also been circulated to the States. As the Opposition Leader in the State Assembly, has publicly stated, whether our Christian State of Nagaland can be a role model for others to emulate with the Chief Minister, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries declaring their assets. That will no doubt be a big and difficult challenge to achieve for any politician in Nagaland whether past or present, Congress or NPF. But the writing on the wall is clear—a transparency revolution is already on its way. It is just a matter of time and we should be prepared.
