IT can counter corruption: Kalam

Proposing e-governance as a tool for ensuring corruption-free administration, President A P J Abdul Kalam said on Tuesday the Internet revolution has proved to be a powerful mechanism for good governance by providing adequate access to information for citizens.

"The Internet revolution has proved to be a powerful tool for good governance initiative and the world is moving towards Internet governance," Kalam said at the inaugural session of the conference on Effects of Corruption on Good Governance and Human Rights in New Delhi.

"E-governance should enable seamless access to information and seamless flow of information across the state and central government in a federal setup," he said.

Observing that it was the duty of the government to provide multiple facilities and services to the people, he said, "These services are required to be constantly upgraded with the use of technology for fulfilling the aspirations of the people."

"I would consider a government machinery corruption free only if the purpose for which the machinery is set up is being fulfilled in letter and spirit," Kalam said.

Citing his experience of an employment generation programme of the government, which had been faulted by the CAG, he said, "In the absence of a non-transparent, corruption free system, a well-intentioned programme fails to produce the desired results."

He said there was a need to study whether factors like an alert media, better Human Development Index and political awareness were responsible for less corruption in states like Kerala and Himachal Pradesh.

Kalam listed the Right to Education and National Rural Employment Guarantee Acts as examples of effective functioning of the legislative system and the Delhi Metro and implementation of e-governance in some states as instances of executive success.

He said there were pockets of corruption-free societies at every level whether it is districts, villages or cities. "We need to identify and celebrate such groups so that they become examples to be followed."

Emphasising that a corruption-free society starts at home, the President said parents and children should keep a check on each other's actions.

"If parents are deviating, children should use love to make them understand."

The second most important thing is the selection of teachers in primary schools. Since children spend maximum time in schools it is important to have effective education at the primary level.

Speaking at the function organised by the National Human Rights Commission, home minister Shivraj Patil said the Right to Information Act and a watchful media are the most important components of a corruption free society. Only about 10 per cent of the people in the country are corrupt, Patil said, adding, "Transparency is the key to a corruption- free society."

"We should correct ourselves rather than criticise the society," he said.

The minister said the need of the hour was to find out the root cause of corruption. After that, "we have to decide how to deal with the menace in a holistic manner."

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