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>View discussions about this entry Country: India
Organization: People’s Association for Rural Development (PARD)
Focus of activity - Community Involvement
Year the initative began (yyyy) - 2000
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
Description of initiative - What is the main focus (products, services, etc.) of your initiative and how does it contribute to ending corruption? What avenues of corruption are you primarily addressing? What activities does it involve for your organization? Who are your primary beneficiaries and target groups? As an organisation involved with activities against corruption for the benefit of the rural poor people, PARD is involved with activities in three stages:
1. Using the present set up of the Government to trap the corrupted Officers. The Government has a Vigilance Wing with which the Government says that it has a wish to control corruption among its Officers. PARD has initiated its efforts to get the corruptive officers behind the bar. For our Farm land, for getting the title deed, when we approached for the Village Administrative Officer and the Surveyor we were demanded bribe. The Village Administrative Officer Claimed Rs. 750 and the Surveyor demanded Rs. 2000/- We approached the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption Wing of the Government and with their effort on 20th February 2005, both were caught and the Court case is going on. We can provide several examples like this. 2. Awareness Programme among the rural people to make them to understand their rights for things getting done in the Government Offices. One day Awareness meetings among the rural women conducted every month to make the rural women to be aware of their rights. 3. Getting things done in the Government Offices. Our effort to end corruption begins with the dialogue with the Government Officers to get things done. More than punishing them it is good to establish things in the mind of the rural women that they can achieve things without bribing the officer. In this way, we can quote many examples that we have achieved things done with the Government Offices without bribing Thus we have created the mindset of the rural poor women that they can achieve their rights without bribing the Officers. If the mindset of the rural people set against corruption, they act on their own to have dialogue with the Government Officers to get their things done in the Government Offices. Our primary beneficiaries are the rural poor people especially rural women. Innovation - How does your approach differ from existing programs in the field? Which components of your initiative are particularly novel or unique (e.g. the products and services, the technology used, the delivery or financing mechanism)? In India there are plenty of organisations concentrating on development programme for the socially and economically backward people. There are two categories of development organisations in India. Developed Organisation and developing organisation. A Developed organisation is an organisation which has high resources and so it need not get any thing from the Government and so the developed organisation never bather about the corruptive situation by which the community is affected. The developing organisation is an organisation is very recently started with very limited or nil resources and so they have to adjust with the Government Officers to get Government schemes or fund from the Government.
Though PARD is in the second category of the Development Organisations, PARD never accepted to give bribe in order to get the Government Schemes or funds. Thus PARD is functioning innovative in its activities for the development of the people. As an organisation involved for the development of the community and as an organisation involved to empower the community to bring its bargaining power, PARD equips the community with the necessary information to fight for their own rights in the Government Offices. Thus PARD plays a major role in making the community to fight for its own rights. All the background support is provided by the organisation to make the community to fight for its own rights. Our method is so innovative as it prepare the community to fight for its rights with the external support of PARD. Delivery Model - How does your initiative reach its target populations? What communications mechanism(s) do you have in place? How do you measure their impact? The communication system that we follow is normally the one to one personal relationship. We also communicate with other means of communication like telephone, mobile, and post. Also we have a monthly newsletter in which we bring success stories and other related information for making the people equipping with necessary information to move for their own rights. The Project Director Mr.E.James Rajasekaran and the Co-ordinator Mr.G.Radhakrishnan is available for all the members of the community at any time for getting guidelines. We have our offices in the city as well as in the rural area where the people easily can come and get instructions. Regular meetings are conducted in the rural office to make the people get necessary information.
The impact is measured by the achievement that the group members got benefit with the Government Schemes. Key Operational Partnerships - What key partnerships have you established to make your model possible or more efficient? Who are your partners (business, social, government, other) and what are their roles? How central are these partnerships for your initiative. The Key partnerships that we have established to make our model possible are the people with whom we are working that is the Women Self Help Groups that we have organised in the area. We have organised more than 300 Women Self Help Groups in these areas in which an average of eighteen members in the groups. It is also part of a Government Programme and as per the Government instructions, these groups may involve in savings and credit programme alone. There are eighteen NGOs involved in this programme in Madurai District and all the other NGOs are implementing the Savings and Credit programme alone. PARD is the only organisation that can make the groups to go beyond the savings and credit activities. And thus the groups are our major partners in taking our activities into reality.
The women functioning in the group is taking the major initiative in taking our ideas into action. Of course these women are fighting for their own rights in the Government offices. But still it makes others to accept that there can be things which can be achieved in the Government Offices without bribing anybody. The Women in the Groups in our area is the main key actors of our efforts. It is they who play the vital role to achieve our goal of activities. Financial Model - Which mechanisms do you have in place to ensure that your beneficiaries can afford your products or services? Do you have financial schemes or arrangements for low-income and marginalized populations? Our services are not priced. We provide our service to the community at free of cost.
For the Below Poverty Line community, we have micro credit programme for the past six years. We are involved with micro credit programme for the past six years and our concentration mainly on the slum community. For the people who are living in the slums in Madurai, we have organised Women Self Help Groups in which they are encouraged to involve in savings programme. They are developed with the habit of Saving. The money collected as Savings is lend among themselves. Thus the credit scheme is introduced to the Groups. Apart from their own money, PARD as a member in a national network by name Mahila Milan receive loan for on lending to the group members. This money is provided for the individual members for their economic activities. We have got several success stories in which the slum community members have established micro enterprises which fetched some money for their family expenses and also for the repayment of the loan. We have a track record of 99% repayment and also we stand first in the National Level Network in proper repayment.
Effectiveness - What has been the concrete impact of your project to date? How many people have benefited from your program in total? What policies, communities, or institutions have been influenced to make fundamental changes because of your work? The Concrete impact of our project is the preparation of mentality of the community that we can achieve things in the Government Offices without bribing. We can quote one instance for this. Our office Telephone had to shift from our farm house to our Co-ordinator’s house. We made necessary application with the Telecom Department and waited for their action. The neighbours of our Co-ordinator just making jokes with us that unless we pay Rs. 400/- the telephone will not get connected also they said this money is shared among all the staff working in the Telecom Department. We waited for one week and finally called the Junior Engineer in the Telecom Department and told him what the neighbours said and asked him “Whether we have to pay any money for getting our phone to connect?” The Junior Engineer replied that we need not give any money and assured us to get our phone connected. Our telephone was connected within one hour. This was watched by our neighbours and made them to believe that they can also achieve their things in the Government Offices without bribing.
In total with our programme there are more than six hundred families have benefited with our policy of anti corruption activities. The community have now developed a deep understanding against corruption of the Government Offices and now several Government Officers are questioned by the local rural women to get their things done in the Government Offices without bribing and the rural community have now realised that they have a chance to go to the higher level officers if the lower level officers are demanding bribe for getting their things done.
Scaling up Strategy - What is your priority for the next 3 years and please describe why. Once the community is trained to initiate its own activities against corruption, PARD can draw a strategy to scaling up and leave the entire responsibility to the community. We can plan the scaling up strategy for the next three years so that we can plan accordingly to train the people, input with necessary information and knowledge and equip the community to face different situation. Then we can leave the activity to lead by the community on itself to carryout the activities.
As we run the programme so far, with our available limited resources, we could not plan the training part of the programme and so we cannot make input among the community with intensive trainings and campaigns. We can plan several campaigns in the withdrawal phase of the programme to make the community involve in various activities so that they get the knowledge and experience in the struggle to face them on their own when the organisation leave the responsibility with the community.
Origin of the Initiative - Tell the personal story that will help people connect to your work. How did the initiative start? Was there a particular individual or event driving the idea? Tell the reader the story behind the innovation. It was because of the experience that we had when we tried to get the Old Age Pension for a few deserving candidates in our adopted area. While a few almost orphaned old people approached us for support, we explained them regarding the Government Scheme that is to support such elderly person for their livelihood. In practical we found many unqualified people are getting these stipends bribing the Government Officers at various levels. We found that person who should be supported with this scheme cannot get any support but person who need not be supported got this support by bribing. This made us to involve against corruption to make the Government Offices to distribute its schemes to the deserving candidates. Hence we decided to have a dialogue with the Government Offices to get the schemes for the legally qualified candidates and if not we can fight for establishing their rights.
Main Obstacles to Scaling Up - List the two (2) main obstacles to scale up your innovation (policy, legal, organizational, people, financial, etc.)? The first main obstacles in scaling up the programme, we feel the preparation of the mentality of the community. And the second one is the legal battle that we have to undertake.
The first obstacles may be removed by making the community to undergo various training on facing the problem and to have so many inputs on this so that they can be prepared to face the situation. The second may be removed by equipping our organisation with financially and legally strong to face the legal battle with various unwanted elements of the society. Main Partnership Challenges - What are your major challenges with partnerships? (E.g., identification of partners, implementation of partnerships, relationship management, etc.) Our major challenge with partnership is the identification of partners for our work. We feel that we are always knocking the wrong door for our needs. Our work was supported by a few foundations earlier but when they turned their area of interest we could not find out new funding partners to support our activities. Thus we face problem in identifying our partners. If We found some suitable partner, we can implement partnerships and we can manage our relationships for which we need some external support.
Contact Information:
James Rajasekaran.E
Project Director People’s Association for Rural Development (PARD) (NGO) pardmadurai@eth.net PARD, P.B.No.87,Madurai 625 020, Tamil Nadu, India India Tel: + 91-452-2533493 Fax: + 91-452-2533493 Website: N/A Discussions about this entry
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Community Oriented effort to end corruption to establish the right of the common people
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I am very impressed about all the work PARD is doing to help people living in the slums in Madurai to fight against corruption. PARD not only have a very nice method but a lot of impressive story and expenience on fighting corruption as well.
The idea of helping local people build up confidence on fighting corruption is very innovative. If one day most people in India dare to stand out and have the confidence that they can achieve things without bribing, then a lot of problems can be sloved eventually.
Corruption has left bad foot marks such as child labour, racism, nepotism and casteism among others all being the common acts in India. There's no day that goes without violation of the born constitution in giving way for corrupt act. What ? But hope to go on for the fight is the only way to eradicate. PARD should go deep and put into consideration of the evils of fruits of corruption one by one is the only way to stump it. Transparency and acoountability is the key success in public administration and if India can work it out like other developing countries like Kenya things wil change for the better.
When the prosperity is greater than values, corruption rears its head.
Corruption is rampant in India, but the body-politic is not yet putrid.
It can still be saved, if at least a core in the leadership desires.
Long before Independence, Rajaji said that we would have a corrupt government in India when independence arrives.
There are a few possibilities to get rid of corruption.
Should a corruption-free leadership, however small, come to power, it is not really too late to eradiate 75% of corruption.
As other countries passed through it, India too will overcome it one day.
England, the USA and several European countries passed through as much corruption as India has today.
Education and self-respect gradually removed it in those places.
No longer are people ashamed of being corrupt. Sometimes they are proud.
The value of material prosperity, not moral values, leads to corruption.
Often incorruptible officers are forced into corruption by family or colleagues.
These stray cases indicate that the hope of redemption is not utterly lost.
Should an incorruptible person be centred in Spirit, incorruptibility will spread in his circle. That is a spiritual hope.
As education spreads, it is expected that self-respect too will rise.
Today people DO want quality goods.
It means better education.
Better education does lead to self-respect.
When Rs. 2000/- was offered to strangers in a mall, several people refused, a phenomenon unheard of earlier. So, there is hope.
Corruption is self-defeating and therefore will work for its dissolution.
Corruption destroys systems like examination. It may produce a system without examinations. That is better.
India can become prosperous either by removing corruption or by saturating it.
Unless a leadership bent upon uprooting corruption emerges, it cannot be removed. I have not lost hope for it.
The basic values of India are noble and therefore corruption cannot rule here forever. How soon and how she will get rid of it is the only question.
Action taken against defective products and services generates an awareness in the public which is directly against corruption, and will prevail in the long run.
Lewis onyoni Motieri
As much as I congradulate you (PARD) for the tireless work you are doing, I wish to tel the whole world to join. For this I may say that: Let's all join our hands together and fight to eradicate child abuse and discrimination in the society. Most of the activities against children are in developing countries. But because of corruptoin, they go unnoticed. Leaving the poor in a situation of "nothing I can do".
For those who are able, Please find ways and means to support those who are in dire need without concidering the geographical nor ethinicity background. Or else, find support and inform those who need it.
Lewis's explaination is very professional. The causes of the corruption in India can be attributed to a lot of reasons. Among them the most serious one could be---Lack of civic consciousness, as Lewis said, the majority of people are growing under illiteracy. They do not posses civil consciousness, that's why People's Association of Rural Development's effort is very important. By helping poor local people to talk directly with government officials, especially high-class government officials, is a very effective way to fight against corruption in India local area.
Corruption means deviation from the moral standard emphasizing the need for integrity. The first five-year plan observed, integrity in public affairs and administration is essential and there must, therefore be an insistence on it in every branch of public activity. The influence of corruption is insidious. It undermines the structure of administration and the confidence of public administration.
Hello and thanks to Madurai.
Corruption is in fact an evil which has to be fought on all fronts and at all levels. In all developing democracies corruption has in fact become a malady. Following are the causes of corruption in India. We need to focus on the history or the genesis of this disease that has left many poor.
Causes of corruption.
(a) Historical.
Corruption is a relic of the colonial past. Colonial masters reserved top positions for themselves and the low positions were earmarked by original inhabitants of the colonies. After the achievement of independence economic development was the goal before national’s development. Hence there arose the necessity of quotas, permits and controls. This opened up gates for black marketing. Officials had to chip in for bribery and black money for their personal interest and leave the common man affected due to negligence of duty to serve as per the code of ethics of service.
(b) Economic.
Corruption has its economic moorings. Salaries paid to officials are not commensurate with rising prices of commodities. Those who can’t afford become silent spectators for their misfortune. They start accepting illegal gratification. Employees cannot make both ends meet; as well arising population is another headache. Sex indulgence and other dubious means are attempted to maintain local peoples social standards. That’s why prostitution has become the hub of high profile business in many towns across the country.
(c) Sociological.
Corruption is deeply rooted in our acquisitive society where greatness of individuals and nobility of their family is judged by the wealth they posses rather than the intelligence and ability they posses. Thus the official race for acquiring wealth without caring for the means they adopt has left the impact of poverty to the mass as the minority and powerful individual remain in full zeal of prestige. They occupy powerful executive seats and none can threaten the protocol or act of the constitution against their conduct. The fear factor has really stimulated their role to impoverish the mass.
(d) Procedural.
The faulty procedural systems and poor anti corruption laws also cause corruption in public service. The shrewd businessman is prepared to pay speed money to get his work expedited. The litigants grease the palms of lower staff to see the official files and even get copies of letters unofficially expeditiously.
(e) Environmental.
With rapid urbanization and fast industrialization, simplicity has vanished. An ostentatious life is considered as the symbol of position in society. Material possessions determine the status of a person in society. Corruption is the only way to find a place in society as fully recognized and respected loyal. But in reality the spoiler and criminal.
(f) Lack of civic consciousness.
Majority of people are growing under illiteracy. They do not posses civil consciousness. The civil services take undue advantage of their ignorance and general apathy they indulge in malpractices without fearing the possible denunciation at the hands of the public.
(g) Political
Evidently those dancing to the tune of political bosses alone can get promotions. Judiciary being not an exception. The ministers-central and state, MP’s, MLA,s Pranchans and sarpaches era has brought corruption by exerting pressure on civil servants to get things done according to their order and not the law.
(h) Non co-operation of commercial classes.
Those in charge of stakes of trade and service have failed to air out their strong revolt to corruption. The trade associations and chambers of commerce can play a significant role to connivance of the commercial classes with corrupt employees but generally , they remain silent spectators.
Safeguards of public services.
Lokpals and vigilance commissions, society or socialist society or Gandhi’s dream can heal this disease. If we as a community like PARD organization can mingle with one ideology we can change the whole system of administration for the better and ensure justice and equality for all without any kind of discrimination. Also the vigilance of the nation, criticism of sound opposition and ventilation of people’s grievances through unbiased media will help. Let us work together and eradicate corruption in India. Form associations that negate corrupt activities and we will live peacefully and enjoy the fruits of our beloved nation.
Lewis Onyoni Motieri.
Corruption means deviation from the moral standard emphasizing the need for integrity. The first five-year plan observed, integrity in public affairs and administration is essential and there must, therefore be an insistence on it in every branch of public activity. The influence of corruption is insidious. It undermines the structure of administration and the confidence of public administration.
Hello and thanks to Madurai.
Corruption is in fact an evil which has to be fought on all fronts and at all levels. In all developing democracies corruption has in fact become a malady. Following are the causes of corruption in India. We need to focus on the history or the genesis of this disease that has left many poor.
Causes of corruption.
(a) Historical.
Corruption is a relic of the colonial past. Colonial masters reserved top positions for themselves and the low positions were earmarked by original inhabitants of the colonies. After the achievement of independence economic development was the goal before national’s development. Hence there arose the necessity of quotas, permits and controls. This opened up gates for black marketing. Officials had to chip in for bribery and black money for their personal interest and leave the common man affected due to negligence of duty to serve as per the code of ethics of service.
(b) Economic.
Corruption has its economic moorings. Salaries paid to officials are not commensurate with rising prices of commodities. Those who can’t afford become silent spectators for their misfortune. They start accepting illegal gratification. Employees cannot make both ends meet; as well arising population is another headache. Sex indulgence and other dubious means are attempted to maintain local peoples social standards. That’s why prostitution has become the hub of high profile business in many towns across the country.
(c) Sociological.
Corruption is deeply rooted in our acquisitive society where greatness of individuals and nobility of their family is judged by the wealth they posses rather than the intelligence and ability they posses. Thus the official race for acquiring wealth without caring for the means they adopt has left the impact of poverty to the mass as the minority and powerful individual remain in full zeal of prestige. They occupy powerful executive seats and none can threaten the protocol or act of the constitution against their conduct. The fear factor has really stimulated their role to impoverish the mass.
(d) Procedural.
The faulty procedural systems and poor anti corruption laws also cause corruption in public service. The shrewd businessman is prepared to pay speed money to get his work expedited. The litigants grease the palms of lower staff to see the official files and even get copies of letters unofficially expeditiously.
(e) Environmental.
With rapid urbanization and fast industrialization, simplicity has vanished. An ostentatious life is considered as the symbol of position in society. Material possessions determine the status of a person in society. Corruption is the only way to find a place in society as fully recognized and respected loyal. But in reality the spoiler and criminal.
(f) Lack of civic consciousness.
Majority of people are growing under illiteracy. They do not posses civil consciousness. The civil services take undue advantage of their ignorance and general apathy they indulge in malpractices without fearing the possible denunciation at the hands of the public.
(g) Political
Evidently those dancing to the tune of political bosses alone can get promotions. Judiciary being not an exception. The ministers-central and state, MP’s, MLA,s Pranchans and sarpaches era has brought corruption by exerting pressure on civil servants to get things done according to their order and not the law.
(h) Non co-operation of commercial classes.
Those in charge of stakes of trade and service have failed to air out their strong revolt to corruption. The trade associations and chambers of commerce can play a significant role to connivance of the commercial classes with corrupt employees but generally , they remain silent spectators.
Safeguards of public services.
Lokpals and vigilance commissions, society or socialist society or Gandhi’s dream can heal this disease. If we as a community like PARD organization can mingle with one ideology we can change the whole system of administration for the better and ensure justice and equality for all without any kind of discrimination. Also the vigilance of the nation, criticism of sound opposition and ventilation of people’s grievances through unbiased media will help. Let us work together and eradicate corruption in India. Form associations that negate corrupt activities and we will live peacefully and enjoy the fruits of our beloved nation.
Lewis Onyoni Motieri.
This is really a very nice project proposal. PARD not only have a feasible proposal but also have real experience on how to help poor people in their area to fight against corruption. As Jean said in her comments, "the most important thing is to let all the people struggling in poverty believe that they can get things done without bribing", it has been proved that if people dare to talk to the government officials, especially to the high-class government officials directly, the problem can be solved.
Also in my view, a lawyer providing low-cost or even free advisory service might be helpful. Actually what these government officials are currently doing are against law. If poor people in Madurai can get this kind of help, it will definitely add their confidence on fight against corruption.
dboy
Just wondering what can someone do to help? Where can someone donate? Is there a website?
Thanks.
-Jack Lee
Hello,
My name is Rich Gottbreht from Global Insights and I am one of the entrants in the competition. Our work centers on helping anyone concerned about corruption learn about the subject through my book, our board game and its associated seminars, as well as low cost consulting. To find out more about us please visit our website www.globalinsights.biz. From the home page, you can link to information about us, our products and what people say about our products and services. From the details in the initiative we submitted you should also note that some of the proceeds from our sales will eventually go to a high integrity leadership development foundation. Also, if you are interested, down the road we will be looking for alliances and contacts in every country.
Thanks,
Rich Gottbreht
If one shall do anything with coruption, one need to start with him/herself. The only reason for we have so much coruption is: People accept to pay bribery. The reason can be many. Get things done much faster. Get right to funds, who are meant on another people etc.
The way Pard fight corupsion, is the best. They denied to pay any bribery at all. If all people has do same as Pard, we have had no coruption. No one could ask after bribery, because no one want to pay.
I belive on the human race. I belive we are not meant to be corupt. Most people who take bribery, dont really want. Still they are maybe forced to do it. They salary is so low, it can t feed themself and they family. This is the beginning to take bribery for most people. After one see how easy it is, they be really corupted and start to be greedy.
One of the best things to fight coruption after my meaning is: Give the employers high enough salary to feed themself and they family.
Regards,
Knut Fredheim.
This kind of problems occur unfortunately all over the world. The worst part is that the most affected are usually the poor people... Good luck in your fight and don't give up!
I really appreciate all the efforts People's Association of Rural Development have made to help the local community in India to fight against corruption. As the project director says, the most important thing is to let all the people struggling in poverty believe that they can get things done without bribing, that is, to "to make the mindset of the rural people to bring confidence that they can also play a role in ending corruption with the Government Officers, that they can achieve their rights without bribing".
All the successful stories included in this article are very impressive and encouraging, if PARD's method can be spreaded, a lot of seemingly difficult matters can probably be solved in the end.
Jean Yuan
I am disgusted with this kind of behavior evrywhere.