Majid wonders if corruption can ever be removed from the Kashmiri DNA?
(Dr. Abdul Miraj Siraj, 63, was born in Srinagar and went to C.M.S. Biscoe Memorial High School. He completed his medical degree from Patna University and his advanced fellowships (FRCS, MRCS, LRCP) from United Kingdom. Dr. Siraj received a degree in Peace Studies from the Bradford University. He worked as a consultant General Surgeon in England and Middle East. He has published three books, which are Kashmir Peace or Desolation (Minerva, London 1997), Towards Peace in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (Manas, Delhi 2003), and Kashmir Caselaw (Scottapress, UK 2006). All books continue to be in circulation. He now lives mostly in Kashmir, and enjoys reading and writing.)
Corruption in Kashmir
In Kashmir corruption is the DNA that infuses life in day to day administration. Any attempt to denature the mould or transfigure the structure will kill the system. A Municipality rubbish collector receives Rs 50 a month from you. He does the most menial job ever and the little money he gets is in literal terms bribery that needs to be formalized as an essential payment.
At the other end of the scale a nice building plot in Gulmarg Bowl is usurped by a fat builder on the basis that he consummated a lucrative handshake with authority. These buildings cause ecological damage and cannot be an asset to the nation. In Pahalgam resources and time are now spent in demolishing illegal constructions that should not have been allowed to be built in the first place. Who will break this mould in the sleaze where every employee is involved. An earlier order banned new constructions in Gulmarg and Pahalgam. This resulted in underhand money demanded from those legitimate owners of existing hotels and huts who need materials for repairs.
Engineers, administrators, high-up civil servants and politicians make a vulgar show of money, luxurious property and affluent lifestyle in blatant daylight. Has this wealth ever been traced to their ancestral sources. If not, where has it come from? Even if the total national wealth was retrieved it will still leave the homeland bereft of good roads, lakes, public buildings and other infrastructure because the damage has already been done. Are investigations warranted under purview of criminal laws.
Quoting an interesting snippet from the field of corruption, a gentleman was seen preparing an estimate to rebuild the retaining wall that was washed away by the flood last year. There was no wall; retorted the questioner. True; replied the engineer, but the wall we are building now will bury evidence that the last year’s wall ever existed. Also this wall will only stand to the time of arrival of next flood. It will crumble and we start again. A similar fate is met in maintenance of roads, drains, public buildings and transformers. Emotive slogans like ‘save Dal Lake’ or ‘rehabilitate earthquake victims or bereaved children’ attracts politicians’ sermons and central funds. These funds are conditional and peace in the valley is one price. Albeit eyes open wide when funds arrive and anyone remotely concerned makes a nose dive. The consequences of this loot become manifest in the dying lakes, denuded forests, and crumbling infrastructure that remains a perpetual source of concern. This practice continues and is highlighted by the National Calamity Relief Fund scam. Sentiments generated cash for the Earthquake calamity of Oct. 8, 2005. The scam uncovered theft and broken schools. This culture of corruption is encouraged when political parties in Kashmir adopt ex-officials with checkered history of corruption as members, so they get their loyalty as a part of clientelism.
In Kashmir a predominantly Muslim State this DNA does not wrong their souls because for a Pardon from Him they have enough money to go for Pilgrimage or make a contribution to an orphanage but only God know that ‘Whatever happens To thee, is from thy (own) soul (S-1V-79 Quraan). The perpetrators’ conscience is clear because the money will serve well and provide good education to members of his family. The whole system of corruption in Kashmir will defeat Lokpal, Anamania or Lokayat culture. The Gandhian philosophy speared by Ahimsa will not work. The DNA is usually rooted in apical structures and the substance works as a bonding agent into the lower ranks in order to keep peace and political order.
The only Lokayat that will work in Kashmir is a Truth Commission appointed by the Supreme Court with extra-ordinary judicial powers to seize total assets of the incriminated individuals that will serve as a deterrent for others who enjoy the trust of the nation.