ABC's of Lokpal bill - A new idea for Anti-Corrupt India

[Sandeep Rao]

1. Who is Anna Hazare?
An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

2. What's so special about him?
He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra

3. So what?
This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the
village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills.
In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest
village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly &
harmonic village.





4. Ok,...?
This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for
his social activities.

5. Really, what is he fighting for?
He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in
India.

6. How that can be possible?
He is advocating for a Bil, The Lok Pal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill),
that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians
(ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.



7. It's an entirely new thing right..?
In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan.
Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to
change the bill to suit thier theft (corruption).
8. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a
Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?
The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and
announce that the bill is going to be passed.

Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the LOK PAL BILL. 50% goverment
participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the
government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

9. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?
A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous
charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state,
Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial
in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be
punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been
going for last 25 years without any result.

10. Is he alone? Whoelse is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?
Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI
activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more.

Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.

11. Ok, got it. What can I do?
At best : accompany him on a chain hunger strike.
At worst : spread the message - put status message, links, video, changing
profile pics








Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill :
Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal,
this Bill has been refined on the basis of feedback received from public on
website and after series of public consultations. It has also been vetted
by and is supported by Shanti Bhushan, J M Lyngdoh, Kiran Bedi, Anna Hazare
etc. It was sent to the PM and all CMs on 1st December.
An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will
be set up  Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be
completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will
be able to influence their investigations. Cases against corrupt people
will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have
to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so
that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two
years. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be
recovered at the time of conviction.
How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done
in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial
penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the
complainant.
So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card
is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other
work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done
in a months time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal
like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or
panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its
investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the
guilty will go to jail within two years. But wont the government appoint
corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That wont be possible because
its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional
authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and
participatory process.





What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of
Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any
officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within
two months.
What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental
vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal.
Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate
and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS WIDELY...this effort of educated people like you and
me may perhaps be a drop in the ocean but i guess the time has come for
educated and the "so-called liberated Indians" to take a stand for the
future of our great country...!!!!








If you think this made some differnce to you then you can probably do more
by





Signing the online petetion -
http://www.petitiononline.com/lokpal/petition.html..


                                                 OR


You can give just a miss call. Yes a miss call. By giving a miss call to
India Against Corruption(founded by Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, JM Limdhoh) at
022-61550789, you can join this movement to fight against corruption.

--
Regards,
Sandeep