Jan Lokpal Movement – What you should know?

The content for this is hugely based from wikipedia, but gives a decent idea to whoever wishes to know a bit about the #IndiaAgainstCorruption moment.

The topic of ‘Transparency in Governance’, particularly in Indian Governance cannot be penned without mentioning Anna Hazare.

Background:
In the early 2000s, Anna Hazare led a movement in Maharastra state, which forced the Government of Maharashtra to repeal the earlier weak act and pass a more stronger Right to Information Act, which was later considered as the base document for the Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI), enacted by the Union Government. It also ensured that the President of India assented to this new act

Having established the RTI, the availability of Information was made easier and this blew the lid of a lot of scams in India. Having said that and not going too much into the history, the next logical step for transparency was to ensure that the corrupt should be made accountable.

Introduction to Lokpal Bill:
The Lokpal Bill(Ombudsman) drafted by the government has languished in the Rajya Sabha for 42 years. The first Lokpal Bill was passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but could not get through in Rajya Sabha. Subsequently, Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008. Yet none of these bills were ever passed.

So what’s Jan Lokpal Bill about?
The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen’s ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill that should pave the way for a Jan Lokpal, an independent body like the Election Commission, which would have the power to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without government permission.

Who drafted this?
The bill has been drafted by Shanti Bhushan, former IPS Kiran Bedi, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, renowned advocate Prashant Bhushan, former chief election commissioner J. M. Lyngdoh in consultation with the leaders of the India Against Corruption movement and the civil society. The bill proposes institution of the office of Lokpal (Ombudsman) at center and Lok Ayukta at state level.

Why isn’t Lokpal Bill enough?
Jan Lokpal Bill is designed to create an effective anti-corruption and grievance redressal systems at centre and to assure that effective deterrent is created against corruption and to provide effective protection to whistle blowers.

The Lokpal bill has left a lot of caveats that our corrupt politicians can exploit. Have a look at the differences between Draft Lokpal Bill 2010 and Jan Lokpal Bill (DLB vs JLB)

Draft Lokpal Bill 2010 (DLB)
Lokpal will have no power to initiate suo moto action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public. It can only probe complaints forwarded by LS Speaker or RS Chairman.

Jan Lokpal Bill (JLB)
Lokpal will have powers to initiate suo moto action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public.

DLB
Lokpal will only be an Advisory Body. Its part is only limited to forwarding its report to the “Competent Authority”

JLB
Lokpal will be much more than an Advisory Body. It should be granted powers to initiate Prosecution against anyone found guilty.

DLB
Lokpal will not have any police powers. It can not register FIRs or proceed with criminal investigations.

JLB
Lokpal will have police powers. To say that it will be able to register FIRs.

DLB
CBI and Lokpal will have no connection with each other.

JLB
Lokpal and anti corruption wing of CBI will be one Independent body.

DLB
Punishment for corruption will be minimum 6 months and maximum up-to 7 years.

JLB
The punishment should be minimum 5 years and maximum up-to life imprisonment.
Lokpal will not be a monopoly for particular area

Isn’t this same as creating one more watchdog
Yes, to an extent it is. But in our context we have reached almost the lowest grades of corruption possible, we have only one direction to look up to. Sadly we have made it a part of our lives! We are slowly getting conditioned to think (and in some cases convince ourselves) that everything that happens around is an act of corruption. Be it a world cup victory being attributed as a ‘fixed’ match or a simple contract being approved with ‘setting’

Spread this message. Try and Join Anna in Delhi. Or else join rally in your state. We will subsequently post details of cities where the protest will take place.

For more information on Jan Lokpal Bill, visit http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org

Community : http://www.facebook.com/indiacor
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/janlokpal

Grow a spine! Fight Corruption!