Well done Anna, but can you and I change as well?

 People are pissed off. Very pissed off. We hear of corruption scams coming to light every single day. Politicians, bureaucrats, government staff. We pay bribes everyday - like its normal. And yes it is normal for us. 

One man decided to get up and act. Anna Hazare fasted for the Lok Pal bill, and unlike what many thought, he ended his fast successfully. The entire country, patriotic post World Cup, stood behind up and the media gave the movement all the coverage possible, and the Government gave in. War won? No, battle won. 

So this is a start. The intention of Anna is great. But how great is the Lokpal bill?

Based on what I've read, it creates regional and central Lokpal / Lokayuktas. Anyone citizen except a government servant can lodge corruption and related complaints against politicians, ministers, MPs, other non political government officials, and so on. The complaints have to be addressed within 6 months, and the concerned person will be fined equal to the amount of loss the country has suffered, along with imprisonment for the crime. 

Now it does look great on paper, but the journey has just begun. It will be interesting to see how the Lokpal bill keeps a check on the corruption amongst the Lokpals. We certainly don't want a new set of non political citizens who we have to pay additional bribe to. It will defeat the purpose completely, if corruption can't be checked at that level. 

In the name of patriotism, have we laid the seeds of something worse? I hope not.

Comparisons are being made, equating the Lokpal system to be autonomous like the Election Commission, or the Indian Judiciary. We all know how 'transparent' and 'non corrupt' they have been despite of being autonomous. 

Mr. Murthy says corruption does effect investments in the country. And of course it does, corruption is universal here, and we are all part of it. Right from the mega scams like the Rajas and the Kalmadis that hurt the country the most, to the 50 rupees to the hawaldar that you and I give while breaking a signal. All of us pay bribes, how ever small it is. Can you and I break the habit first? Its difficult to pay a 300 rupee fine for lane cutting, when you can get away by paying 20%. Its 80% off and we all love sales!

I guess we all have to answer, is small corruption also corruption?