A day after it was launched, the new anti-corruption helpline number has the people of Delhi hoping that incidents of corruption faced by the common man will come down drastically.
This is the third promise
of the Aam Aadmi Party to be fulfilled, after the decision of free
supply of over 650 litres of water to each household, and the halving of
electricity charges for those using up to 400 units a month.
Delhi
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced Wednesday a helpline to report
incidents of bribe. Anyone who is asked to pay a bribe by any official
in the capital can seek help on phone number 011-27357169.
Activist
Subhash Chandra Agarwal, who has filed more than 6,000 Right to
Information (RTI) applications, said even though the success of this
"new experiment" is still to be experienced, the very announcement of
such a helpline could impact those seeking to enrich themselves by
corrupt means.
"It would certainly create some fear psychology
in corrupt officials, just like the RTI. After RTI, officials and
ministers are afraid of incorrect records and files," he said.
Agarwal,
however, added that a phone number easier to remember should be
launched soon, and a registration number should be given to
complainants.
Kejriwal has already said that a four-digit number
that could be committed to memory easier would be released in about
five days.
I.S. Bakshi, principal of Delhi's Dyal Singh College,
said the helpline could be a "deterrent" to corruption, but for the
practice to cease, people's mentality must change.
"This
helpline will definitely prove to be a deterrent, but for it to function
well, mindsets of the people need to change. People should do their
work without seeking favours. There is an illness in society that needs
to be curbed, and I believe this is the first step," Bakshi told IANS.
The
anti-corruption sentiment has been running high in the national capital
since Gandhian activist Anna Hazare launched his movement for passing
the anti-graft Lokpal bill in 2011.
Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party's victory has been credited to this anti-corruption sentiment.
Many
people in Delhi, young and old and working in a range of professions,
expressed happiness and hope at the launch of the helpline.
"I
think it is going to make some real difference. I am sure any official
will think twice before asking for a bribe," said Shreya Sharma, a
student of Delhi university.
"I welcome the helpline launched by
the chief minister and hope people make the most out of it," said
42-year-old housewife, Rekha Joshi.
Joshi however added that citizens were equally responsible for the "bribe culture".
"Citizens
are equally responsible for this bribe culture... we look for an easy
way out, and hence indulge in bribing. I think this will help in
breaking this vicious circle,"
Swapan Bhattacharjee, 65,
caretaker of a residential complex in Delhi's Dwarka area, said: "It
might work out to some extent, but those who have had their work done by
bribing the other party will just continue doing so. I hope that the
team behind this helpline will attend to complaints, and bring about
change".
There was, however, the sceptical voice too.
"However
optimistic and well-meaning the idea is, I don't think it is going to
work. The idea of a sting operation is not very viable. I don't think I
would take the pain of doing a sting operation on anyone. Sting
operations, as we have seen before, aren't a very reliable tool for
investigation," said Debojit Dutta, 26, student.
"Instead of
opening a helpline and then helping people conduct sting operations, a
redressal forum that would investigate complaints and act upon them with
transparency and efficiency might have been more welcome," Dutta said.
