SHASTRI BHAVAN IS A 'NATIONAL MONUMENT' IN TERMS OF CORRUPTION AFTER THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE, EVEN AT THE ENORMOUS RISK OF BEING THOROUGHLY ( MIS- )UNDERSTOOD.

GATE PASS IS DELIVERED BY THE RECEPTION OFFICER IF ONE SMARTLY HINTS THE RECEPTION OFFICER OF BEING SUITABLY TAKEN CARE OF LATER. WHILE RETURNING, THE VISITOR IS EXPECTED TO PALM OFF A 100 RUPEE NOTE ALONGWITH THE GATE PASS, NEATLY FOLDED, DIRECTLY INTO THE EAGER HANDS OF THE RECEPTION OFFICER. VISITING CARD IS DEMANDED AND THANK YOU PHONE CALL IS MADE LATER, BUT NOT ALWAYS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SECURITY CHECK IS JUST FOR NAMESAKE. ONE CAN VISUALISE THE QUANTUM OF SECURITY RISK INVOLVED HEREIN.

IS THE DYNAMIC HOME MINISTER LISTENING TO ME ?

NOT VERY LONG AGO, THERE USED TO BE KOYLA MANTRI WHO CHARGED FOR THE COAL-LINKAGE AWARDED @ Rs. 30,000/- PER METRIC TONNE IN SOLID CURRENCY !! CHEQUE / DD / POSTAL ORDER / HUNDI / PROMISSARY NOTES JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE !! AND MONEY USED TO COLLECTED BY HIS HONOURABLE P.S. OFFICIALLY AT HIS OFFICIAL RESIDENCE ! LAW / POLICE / AUTHORITY...WHAT AUTHORITY !!! EXTRA 3 / 4 LACS WERE ASKED FOR, FOR THE SUBORDINATE STAFF ( PEON etc. ) AS THEIR 'BAKSHISH'.

NOT VERY LONG AGO, THERE USED TO A MINISTER FOR MINES IN SHASTRI BHAVAN. HE TOO WAS A NOBLE SOUL. ASKING RATE FOR THE SANCTION OF MINING LEASE USED TO BE -

FROM 1 TO 100 HECTARE SIZE OF MINE  -  @ Rs. 2,00,000/- PER HECTARE.

FROM 101 TO 500 HECTARE SIZE  -  @ Rs. 1,00,000/- PER HECTARE.

FROM 501 TO INFINITE HECTARE SIZE  -  @ Rs. 75,000/- PER HECTARE.

THE SLABS WERE CAREFULLY CRAFTED SO AS TO MAKE THE BRIBE AMOUNT LOOK RESPECTABLE. 

WADS OF CURRENCY NOTES NECESSARILY IN Rs. 1000 DENOMINATION, USED TO BE COLLECTED BY HIS REAL DAUGHTER'S REAL SON AT A REMOTE PUBLIC PLACE viz. SHOPPING MALL TOILET OR MAY BE INSIDE A CAR AT A LONELY PLACE. HIS OSD ALWAYS BROKERED THE DEALS VERY VERY EFFICIENTLY.

FOR FIXING ORDERS BY THE MINING TRIBUNAL, AGAIN LOCATED IN THE SHASTRI BHAVAN, STARTING RATE WAS Rs. 50,00,000.

WELL, THESE FIGURES WERE SIMPLY NON-NEGOTIABLE THEN. NO SALE, NO DISCOUNTS PLEASE. PARTING KICK FROM THE 'KAMAL-MUKH' OF PS / OSD USED TO BE - WE ARE AFTER ALL SERVING THE NATION. HATS OFF TO THEM, INDEED !!!

LET'S TAKE A SHORT TRIP TO PARYAVARAN BHAVAN, HOUSING MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FOREST.

LESS SAID THE BETTER. RECEPTION OFFICER IS ALWAYS EXTREMELY SWEET AND NICE. NO DEMANDS IN ADVANCE, THOUGH YOU ARE EXPECTED TO DO YOUR 'DUTY' LATER. MAY ISHVARA BLESS THEM A VERY LONG LIFE INDEED.

FOR THE POLLUTION CLEARANCE CERTFICATE, OSD OF THE 'HONOURABLE MINISTER' WOULD BLUNTLY DEMAND 10 % OF THE PROJECT-COST AS THEIR 'SERVICE FEE'. AGAIN NON-NEGOTIABLE, ( IN THEIR OWN WORDS ) AS IT IS A VERY TOUGH GOING FOR THEM IN THESE DAYS OF LOT OF WITCH-HUNTING !!

AND THE BUNDLES OF CASH WOULD BE DELIVERED TO SOME OBSCURE LOOKING BUSINESSMAN IN SOUTH DELHI OR A DICEY, 'CONVENT EDUCATED GENTLEMAN', ALWAYS AVAILABLE IN THE LOBBY OF SOME 5-STAR HOTEL.

THERE IS AN INTERESTING STORY OF AN IAS BABU BELONGING TO THE GUJARAT CADRE. SINCE NARENDRA MODI IS NOTORIOUS FOR HIS ZERO-TOLERANCE TOWARDS CORRUPTION, THE BABU CAME DOWN TO SHASTRI BHAVAN ON DEPUTATION, MINTED CRORES OF RUPEES DURING HIS STAY THERE, THEN REVERTED TO HIS PARENT CADRE ONLY TO BECOME DOWNRIGHT HONEST AGAIN !!!

THERE IS ANOTHER TALE OF A WOMAN IAS BABU IN THE SAME BUILDING WHO HAS A BUSINESSMAN-HUSBAND FOR THE BETTER. WHATEVER BRIBE THE SNOBBISH, ARROGANT AND ILL-TEMPERED SHE-IAS-BABU EARNS, IS CYCLED INTO WHITE MONEY BY HER DUTIFUL, DOTING HUSBAND !! ALL WOMEN BABUS WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO MARRY ONLY...ONLY BUSINESSMEN FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR HEIGHTENED CONJUGAL BLISS !!

WOMEN EMPLOYEES HAVE IN NO WAY LESSENED CORRUPTION OR AUGMENTED MORALITY / EFFICIENCY IN WORK-PLACES. THEN, WHY SHOULD THERE BE RESERVATION FOR THEM ??

WHILE IAS BABUS COMMAND AND DEMAND BRIBES, THEIR POOR-PATHETIC COUSINS OF INDIAN FOREST SERVICE BEG FOR BRIBES. ONE ADDL.PCCF SITTING IN PARYAVARAN BHAVAN BEGGED FOR ANOTHER ONE LAC RUPEES AFTER BEING PAID ONE LAC RUPEES !!! INTERESTING INDEED. THIS IS THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL FOREST COVER !!                                  

ANYONE WOULD FEEL SORRY FOR THE NATION. OUR POVERTY IS IMPOSED BY THESE SCOUNDREL-POLITICIANS.

MINISTERS IN ODISHA ARE SCARED OF MINTING MONEY BECAUSE THEIR LEADER HAS DEVELOPED A MARVELLOUS WAY OF DOING IT AND REMAINING MARBLE-WHITE IN INTEGRITY...  

HOW CAN CBI MAKE A DENT INTO THE MALAISE, WHEN THINGS ARE SO WELL ORGANISED ?? BEYOND THEIR REACH, REALLY.     

POLITICIANS / BUREAUCRATS ARE CORRUPT BECAUSE WE INDIANS, PARTICULARLY BUSINESSMEN / INDUSTRIALISTS ARE DOWNRIGHT CORRUPT. BUSINESSMEN / INDUSTRIALISTS ARE CORRUPT BECAUSE POLITICIANS / BUREAUCRATS ARE DOWNRIGHT CORRUPT !!!

CAN WE REALLY TACKLE THE PROBLEM ?

 

VANDE MAATARAM I

 

RAMAKANT TIWARI