Why Should Indians Be Proud of Their Track-record of Corruption?

Dear Dr. Singh, thanks for this well written article. I think one more criteria could be part of this - which is contentment. Our nation does not have such resources to pay these high figures but certainly tried to pay as per capacity if we consider the recent past pay commission and the one which is due next year. When character score is more, it means that the people are content also by nature. In my view the problem lies in the lack of accountability to some extent which encourages small corruption. Some people do not realise what they are doing is a corrupt practice i.e. asking for company vehicle and guest house etc to start with and "monthly" and %age of refund amount. We can not sit and wait for the things to improve at their own but the change should start from where we are. People like you and me can do much more by making the processes transparent and such routine "small corruption" can be curtailed/eliminated. CBEC is not open to any idea to smooth-en the processes. Tax officials to be tasked to go after the evaders who are not registered but opposite happening. Who are paying huge amount of taxes are subjected to inquiries/audits twice in a year and all this yield less then 1% of the total tax collection but add to corruption as the audits and investigations are "fixed" and negotiated. These are certain examples in indirect tax regime. Direct tax is more good in that sense due to TDS, PAN, online facilitation and annual financial information & 360 degree profiling. Same type of arrangements/processes should be made in CBEC also. Service tax certainly can follow TDS. In other public services also, lot of small time corruption can be eliminated by allowing online payment (electricity, water bills, property taxes and other civic amenities). Non taxed are almost at same level as of the taxed community. Means we can expect to double the collection by merely facilitating the payer community with smooth processes and friendly environment. More tax collection would automatically usher more money for developmental activity and more prosperity which in turn increase the salaries. I agree with the point that the salaries are low but how to improve upon is the question which i have tried to answer.

Arbind Aggarwal.
arbindaggarwal@gmail.com

Arbind Aggarwal 27/12/2014