India 'issues' Zero Rupee Banknotes
Brilliant Idea to challenge India’s Bribe Culture but Anyone use these yet? If yes kindly share your experience with us…
Via Telegraph.co.uk
Campaigners from the Fifth Pillar charity, which confronts corrupt officials using freedom of information legislation, have issued notes bearing the image of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of its freedom struggle.
The notes are identical to Indian banknotes, but carry the slogan “Eliminate corruption at all levels” and the pledge “I promise to neither accept not give bribe”.
The group claims the notes have been very successful in challenging train ticket inspectors, police officers and civil servants demanding “backsheesh” for performing their public duties.
Corruption is endemic in India, where members of the public are forced to pay cash bribes to register cars, homes, get a broadband connection installed, or even in many cases to claim benefits they are entitled to from government schemes.
The charity claims £3 billion is paid each year in bribes in India, but insiders believe the figure is considerably higher, and that several leading politicians have become billionaires through corruption.
Fifth Pillar believes the Zero Rupee note is a way for powerless people to make a stand. “The note is a way for any human being to say no to corruption without the fear of facing an encounter with persons in authority. Read More
For more information about NGO 5th Pillar, Kindly visit their website at
http://india.5thpillar.org/front_page
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{ 2 comments }
Speaking of corruption, I have an experience to share.
My company wanted to send me for a stint to the US and that’s when I realized my passport had expired! I immediately started work to renew it with the Mumbai passport office. And I have never been through a more painful experience. The innumerable visits to the passport office, scrambling to get all the paperwork together – trust me, it was a nightmare! But the worst was yet to come – the police verification. I received a call from the cop saying he would be coming home for the verification. Well he did turn up, and after doing a cursory check, he blatantly made it clear that the forms would only be cleared at their end in case he got a lil something from us. Ashamed to say it, but I did give him a lil something, cos I was in such a rush. But that’s also when I decided that I will do something about it.
I really didn't know how I can make a difference. I asked myself, Can I really stop corruption? Although, I had a lot of doubts I was determined to do something. I started asking my friends and colleagues whether they know of any organisation that fights corruption. That’s when a friend suggested that I register myself on http://www.jaagore.com , since the website has a database of NGOs. I immediately did that, and have even started working on a project with an NGO. I’ve never felt so proud of myself.
Since the dawn of civilization the good thinking and all that is good are culture. It is complete picture of life. It represents what we do in our daily life. Language ,music,ideas about what is bad and good,ways of working and playing, and the tools and other objects made and used by people in the society-all these are part of a society’s culture. Cultures vary from society to society or country to country
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