As you would realise this issue is highly sensitive in terms of discussion in the public domain, I would be keeping myself anonymous for this article.

The Million Dollar question is: Who can locate these corrupt elements and finally incriminate and sentence them accordingly? Answer is equally simple: The bureaucrats and the politicians. But when 99% of them are corrupt, who can the normal public look at for a change. Will they propose a law which will punish them and their colleagues who are with them in these corrupt practices?

Now let's look at the situation in Uttar Pradesh. For those of you who do not know what Uttar Pradesh is?, let me give you a small brief about it. This is the most populous state in India with lots of natural resources and lots of rivers, a blessing for the fertile land. This state could have been one of the best states in India but it is not; thanks to the corrupt political scenario in this state. Instead of creating projects for the development of the poor and the underprivileged, money is being spent on statues and parks, which carry no financial value/advantage for the poor. But, ironically these projects carry a good value for these corrupt bureaucrats and politicians as they can swindle money out of these projects easily for many of the items in these projects are abstract viz; statues, ornamental/ decoration furniture for parks etc. Imaginary values can be assigned to either of these abstract items and money swindled easily. Money, which should been spent for the development of the state is being spent on these financially unsound projects.

Major highways in Uttar Pradesh are in a sorry state, with more area of potholes than the actual road. Sadly, the public is equally responsible for this state of UP. They fail to find courage in voicing against this system and the malpractices prevalent in the system. Every other citizen in this state or in general an average Indian has given up hope on these issues and taken them in their stride. They believe that a change will happen in the future but when. No one knows the time frame for they do not have any plan. The moment you get out of your house you can see the unplanned state of infrastructure, traffic, sanitation…..the list is endless.

When will we Indians grow up and learn to talk against these issues with vigour. Debates have been going on on these issues in Media (Print/TV) but there seems to be no result whatsoever. Let us just take the recent example of Infrastructure Projects in New Delhi, solely being constructed for the Common Wealth Games 2010. These projects should have been treated as the ones which would reflect/enhance our nation's image globally but again the opposite has happened. Most of the projects are delayed; extra fund (tax payers' money) has been allocated to speed up the projects and save face of our nation. What a shame! Even then top government officials express their optimism of finally being there where they should have been now!.

In UP, every other government project by the state is a money spinner for the corrupt bureaucrats (the rats) and the corrupt politicians. They command 6-7% advance fee (for the top corrupt politicians) as their commission to award projects to firms of their choice. This commission/fee is called as ‘government expenses' in the official circle.

Later on the firms pay another 10-12% on every payment they get against these projects (this fee is shared by all the corrupt government officials linked with these projects). The Project manager won't approve the invoice until he gets his cut from the invoice. And so will the head accountant. He won't put his sign on the cheque till he gets his cut out of this payment. It is a complete chain and the chain is too long. Everyone in the government circle knows about it and still do not know about it officially. This is indeed corruption!. Out of every 100 Rupees spent on a project 18-25 Rupees is paid to these corrupt officials. This truly explains the quality of works at all government projects and the reason why they all get delayed. Who is the real loser? We, the general Indian Citizen; the tax payer is the loser. We pay our dues, and these corrupt bureaucrats (the rats) and corrupt politicians swindle that money for themselves.

It is time we (ALL INDIANS) wake up. It is high time WE wake up. It is indeed a wake up call now. We wake up now or never. Let us all unite on this and create a movement which can transform our nation into a nation, which it was during the ERA of Lord RAM. Let us work towards one goal: Transform India into a Land of Dreams, True Freedom, Peace, Prosperity and Honesty.

If you are with me on this please leave your comments/suggestions, and I will do my part by writing more on this.

Indian Citizen (Anonymous)
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