Fighting Corruption, Bureaucracy and Red Tape

The Hindu Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 29, 2010

Vijay Anand banks on awareness and courage to fight corruption

Fighting Corruption Vijay Anand Getting a licence or a passport without a bribe isn't as difficult as you think. “It's so easy, so simple but people think it's a daunting task,” says Vijay Anand, president of 5th Pillar, a movement started by citizens to fight corruption.

Vijay Anand shares the secret. “Exhibit knowledge, empower yourself with the right kind of information, and do not take anything personally. We do not make life difficult for the individual asking for bribe. We do it in a courteous way. That's the reason weve not been even questioned. We've been treated respectfully, and the job has been done immediately. Only when we touch their ego are chances of retaliation possible.”

The potent weapon
The weapon? The Zero Rupee Note. It's a currency-shaped document that pledges that the holder of the note will not accept or offer a bribe. “We have distributed 10 lakh copies of the Zero Rupee Note in the last four years; it has never failed.”

At public seminars, 5th Pillar offers support to citizens who've had problems getting work done the legal way at Government offices. On one condition — all papers must be in order, and the citizen must not have attempted to bribe.

“Nobody takes up that offer because most people don't have the papers in order. That's the sad part. They are willing to bribe because it is convenient,” notes Vijay Anand.

“When everything is in order, we make them do it. Asking for the name of the official instils fear in the mind of the corrupt. He does not have the wherewithal to harass the citizen or any member of the 5th Pillar. We have a separate wing for more serious cases that involve the corrupt and the criminals.”

The movement has three directors — operations, executive director, and vigilance and anti-corruption. “We use the RTI Act, asking for information over the phone, and the job gets done immediately.”

In 1997, activist M.B. Nirmal started 5th Pillar as a citizen's movement against corruption. The organisation boosted its membership with a strong online presence enrolling volunteers over Yahoogroups before Vijay Anand was offered leadership.

He registered the organisation in Washington DC in 2006 to mobilise support from NRIs. “We launched the ‘Freedom From Corruption' campaign in 2006 with the Zero Rupee Note. We've made students of about 600 institutions take the pledge. The idea is to sensitise the younger generation against corruption. Bribing is against the law. Isn't it necessary to be patriotic every day of the year?”

Going strong
He continues: “We launched a Students Against Corruption (SAC) unit with two students — Dilip Kumar and Sathyaraj — as State Convenors. We just completed our first anniversary.”

Schools and colleges can mailsac@5thpillar.org to have their own SAC cells. SAC cells plan to work with RTO offices for licence drives and passport camps in their colleges.

Citizens can email endcorruption@5thpillar.org or call 65273056/ 94451-64555 for assistance.
A silent storm brews
5th Pillar All of us who want a corruption free nation: click here