ANNA HAZARE - Fighting corruption




Anna Hazare at 78 fasts unto death starting 5th April for all of us & our future generations. He's demanding enactment of a strong anti-corruption law - Jan Lokpal Bill - to ensure swiftness & certainty of punishment to the corrupt.

Things to know about Anna Hazare and Lok Pal Bill :

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. 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. Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

5.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 Bill, 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 govt 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 can’t trust the govt. entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

9. Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill:

A. An institution called LOKPAL at the centre & LOKAYUKTA in each state will b set up

B. Like Supreme Court & Election Commission, they'll b completely independent of the govts. No minister or bureaucrat will b able to influence their investigations.

C. Cases against corrupt people'll not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to b completed in 1 year. Trial shud be completed in next 1 year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.

D. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the govt. will b recovered at the time of conviction.

E. How'll it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any govt. office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.

F. So, U 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 month's time.

G. But wont the govt. appoint corrupt & weak people as Lokpal members? That won't b possible bcause its members will be selected by judges, citizens & constitutional authorities & not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.

H. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent.

I. What'll happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance & anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal who'll have complete powers & machinery to independently investigate & prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

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