As Governor LePage confronts the challenge of cutting the state budget he may hear the refrain that Maine is the oldest state with fewer people working or creating jobs, with more state services needed by the elderly, with an expensive state workforce of older workers providing those services. That is not true. By sheer numbers it can never be true. That would go to California. In fact, California has largest number of almost any category you could pick. More realistically, we have to look at percentages. But it turns out that many of the commentators, from TV, radio, blogs and other media and our political officials haven't looked at the data. They've just heard Maine is the oldest. So what state would you guess is the oldest? That's right, it is Florida.
The US Census 2009 estimates show Maine certainly has a large percentage of population who are elderly, ranked as having the 3rd largest percentage of the population 65 and over. Florida has 17.2%, West Virginia has 15.8%, Maine has 15.6%, followed closely by Pennsylvania with 15.4% of its population 65 and over. The data on the age of the population from the 2010 Census have yet to be published, but it's not likely to vary much from the 2009 estimate.
Maybe it is that the observers of trends are counting those 55 and over or 40 and over as old. Census estimates of those 55 and over yields the same ranking. Maine is the third oldest state. Forty and over is the point at which state and federal laws protect you from age discrimination so perhaps that is the magic number for old age. Nope. It turns out the Census does not present the data in that manner. Its compare ages 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 to 64 and so on so observers aren't counting those 40 and above as old.
If you look back at the 2000 Census of every single person rather than the 2009 estimate, it showed Maine (14.4%) to be the 7th oldest state, not the oldest. One of our fellow New England states, Rhode Island (14.5%), had a slightly greater percentage 65 and over.
The percentage of the US population 65 and over in 2000 was 12.4% and is now estimated to be 12.9%. Maine is joined by 12 other states with an increase of 1% or more in the population 65 and over between 2000 and 2009. Those states are as diverse as Alaska (which has the smallest percentage of the population over 65), another New England neighbor, Vermont, and states as different as Delaware and Hawaii. On the other side of the coin, only eight states had a decrease or stayed the same in the percentage 65 and over.
So where does that put us? We are rightfully worried about an aging population that must be supported by a smaller percentage of young people. The Census Bureau converts that question into a statistic called old-age dependency. Maine is the 4th in dependency of elderly (65 and over) on the working age population (18-64). with Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Florida having higher levels of dependency. So let's calm down about Maine being the oldest state. Sure there are lots of issues to face with aging baby boomers in Maine, and many of them do relate to hard choices that will be made by Governor LePage and the legislature, but the nation also faces them.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Community Policing: Maybe the Answer is Fixing Broken Windows
As I learned more and more about policing and law enforcement in India, I began to theorize that the answer is not community policing writ large, but perhaps the fixing broken windows idea. While I was here there were two rapes in the city, one was a gang rape. A young woman with another woman was delivered to her home after getting off the evening shift. Evidently the cab driver did not accompany her to her door. In the US we would think that this was enough. But the police immediately came out with the idea that they would mandate that cab drivers accompany women at night. And the police would follow some cabs at night to make sure they were doing this. In another case, a woman was abducted who was with a male friend who could not prevent it. He ran around to call for help and then he ran around to see if any one saw the number of the car, but the police didn't come promptly and didn't listen to him according to the news story. But what the police can't fix is that now the family is in denial of what happened because her honor has been violated. The Chief Minister and others are investigating these rapes.
In big cities and elsewhere rapes do happen. What needs to be investigated is any ways that other government branches and NGOs, the companies can help rather than do everything. What the police need to fix is, perhaps, their response. But this is a more large scale and policing problem.
According to the broken window theory, the police need to be active in reporting, monitoring the urban environment so that people feel safe and people actually behave better. They need to reduce petty crime and vandalism. They have an excellent opportunity here in Delhi because neighborhood are gated and off the highways. This idea started with a recognition that if graffiti was removed from subway cars in NYC, people behaved better. If the street has litter, then more people drop litter and more people are disrespectful of others. If horn blowing starts (and it is all over the subcontinent), then it will continue and traffic will not follow the rules of the road. This means that police must monitor and arrest for some of the minor crimes, but also call upon the neighborhood associations to take ownership, call upon public waste departments, women's groups to help victims, and other agencies to create a civil society.
Indians speak regularly of creating a civil society. This idea fits with their world view of a democratic society for all in India no matter what religion, language, caste, or class. The petty issues, the litter, the crazy traffic do affect the quality of life and ultimately how safe they perceive themselves. It starts from the bottom up. Its not easy but it may be a start in light of so many big problems in India. But there is a mind set of pride in India as the biggest democracy and the public needs to feel safe.
In big cities and elsewhere rapes do happen. What needs to be investigated is any ways that other government branches and NGOs, the companies can help rather than do everything. What the police need to fix is, perhaps, their response. But this is a more large scale and policing problem.
According to the broken window theory, the police need to be active in reporting, monitoring the urban environment so that people feel safe and people actually behave better. They need to reduce petty crime and vandalism. They have an excellent opportunity here in Delhi because neighborhood are gated and off the highways. This idea started with a recognition that if graffiti was removed from subway cars in NYC, people behaved better. If the street has litter, then more people drop litter and more people are disrespectful of others. If horn blowing starts (and it is all over the subcontinent), then it will continue and traffic will not follow the rules of the road. This means that police must monitor and arrest for some of the minor crimes, but also call upon the neighborhood associations to take ownership, call upon public waste departments, women's groups to help victims, and other agencies to create a civil society.
Indians speak regularly of creating a civil society. This idea fits with their world view of a democratic society for all in India no matter what religion, language, caste, or class. The petty issues, the litter, the crazy traffic do affect the quality of life and ultimately how safe they perceive themselves. It starts from the bottom up. Its not easy but it may be a start in light of so many big problems in India. But there is a mind set of pride in India as the biggest democracy and the public needs to feel safe.
The Taj
Dec 11 and 12 Now for some sightseeing after a long week. Sat began quietly with me doing some grading and trying to figure out how to get to Connaught Circle where some tourism companies including the govt tourism office were. I spent a fair amount of time trying to find a company that had a bus to take people to the Taj Mahal and decide the best way to find one was to go where they were Connaught Circle. I took a motorized rickshaw there which was quite exhilarating because it was a tad cool, may be in the mid 60s. These motorized open air three wheelers are thrilling no matter what as they meander in the traffic. I knew there had to be some bus trips but it turns out to be difficult to find in New Delhi. Every cab driver (including the driver that I have had regularly accompany me) and every tourism company will provide you with a personal driver, but being by myself I wanted to go with others.
So I took a rickshaw and began to walk around. The center of the circle is filled with shops as are the spokes out from the circle. As I walked through one of the bazaars, of course, people want to befriend you and have you come to their stall. I said, no and more nos and one enterprising individual asked me what I was looking for. He directed me to an office. It's an approved office, but again it was to set you up with a driver. I consented at first and as I walked with one of the tourist office people to a bank machine to pay, I decided that I was being pressured into something I want.
I next found the government tourism office and asked for another place that I thought had tour buses but I never found it and ended back at the govt tourism office. I was befriended by an Indian travel writer sitting there and he told one of the people there could set me up with exactly what I wanted . Yea! But I was exhausted. After making arrangements--back to the bank machine--I returned to the circle.
On a side note, one of the problems with Rupees is that the denominations are larger so I was never getting enough money. And I have chosen probably the most expensive driver there is in Delhi, but since I started with him, Ghandi, and he cleans the car inside and out, holds the door, accompanies when necessary I stuck with him, and waits for me at appts). In the end, my Dad would say, you won't remember you spent what you deemed was too much.
I returned to the circle and got some 7-up and some sort of fried pastry. Good. Then back to another rickshaw and home.
I was so exhausted that I didn't hear my alarm that was to get me up at 6 o'clock to go catch what turned out to be 20 seater bus. That is not me! Ghandi waited for me and I made it in plenty of time. When I got there I was unsure whether I was really in the right place but Ghandi assured me it was right. It turns out that on Sundays early morning is the flower market. Imagine how beautiful and chaotic to get to the depot.
You would think that the road would be fairly good going to the Taj but part of it was dirt and there was a huge traffic jam. After a couple of hours we stopped for the tea and a snack/breakfast. Very nice. There are tourist restaurants, dhabas, along the way. This one happened to be indoors and there were nice looking brick or some form of cement cabins, a lawn, a horse for the kids to have rides on and a decent bathroom. I talked to four from a North Carolina university attending some sort of special undergraduate conference, two professors and two students.
We first went to Agra Fort. I can't tell you too much about it. The guide was not the most clear. It is a World Heritage site and right across from the Taj. It was built during the Mughal Empire days, built mostly during the 16th century by Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal.
After the fort we had lunch at a restaurant where we purchased our own food and I sat with an Indian family up from Chennai. He was an engineer and she was a teacher and there 14 year old daughter was with them. I asked her if she spoke a little English and she said yes and all her schooling is in English. She was shy as kids are that age. I told her she was very pretty and she was, of course, embarrassing her, but her Dad was very proud.
The Taj is all that you might think it is. It is breathtaking. I had my photo taken in front of it. It just seemed like the right thing to do. All I can tell you is that 22 is the magic number. The Chennai family and I stood in line to go inside the Taj, but unfortunately it was getting too late so we had to drop out of line. I figured out why our guide was rushing us to get through Agra Fort. No matter it was beautiful and the sky was blue. I figured it would be nice and hazy or polluted like Delhi, but it was just a beautiful day.
Stopped at a road stop on our way home. Had some peanuts that were roasting. Not so good. Later stopped at a dhabas. The Indian engineer asked me how I knew what to order (you go up to the counter and they bring it to you). I had to admit that right in Bangor, Maine there is an Indian restaurant and a Pakistani Restaurant. And I've been to Pakistan
Got back around 11:30 The bus was dropping off a couple so at the suggestion of my North Carolina friends
I asked whether we were going to be anywhere near where I am staying. He said right there so the other person on the bus walked out with me and we went over to the rickshaws. All of them were clamoring for me. The winner was the one who knew the colony (called colonies, enclaves, sectors for neighborhoods) I was staying in. So another exhilarating ride into the night.
Now on to Bangladesh.
So I took a rickshaw and began to walk around. The center of the circle is filled with shops as are the spokes out from the circle. As I walked through one of the bazaars, of course, people want to befriend you and have you come to their stall. I said, no and more nos and one enterprising individual asked me what I was looking for. He directed me to an office. It's an approved office, but again it was to set you up with a driver. I consented at first and as I walked with one of the tourist office people to a bank machine to pay, I decided that I was being pressured into something I want.
I next found the government tourism office and asked for another place that I thought had tour buses but I never found it and ended back at the govt tourism office. I was befriended by an Indian travel writer sitting there and he told one of the people there could set me up with exactly what I wanted . Yea! But I was exhausted. After making arrangements--back to the bank machine--I returned to the circle.
On a side note, one of the problems with Rupees is that the denominations are larger so I was never getting enough money. And I have chosen probably the most expensive driver there is in Delhi, but since I started with him, Ghandi, and he cleans the car inside and out, holds the door, accompanies when necessary I stuck with him, and waits for me at appts). In the end, my Dad would say, you won't remember you spent what you deemed was too much.
I returned to the circle and got some 7-up and some sort of fried pastry. Good. Then back to another rickshaw and home.
I was so exhausted that I didn't hear my alarm that was to get me up at 6 o'clock to go catch what turned out to be 20 seater bus. That is not me! Ghandi waited for me and I made it in plenty of time. When I got there I was unsure whether I was really in the right place but Ghandi assured me it was right. It turns out that on Sundays early morning is the flower market. Imagine how beautiful and chaotic to get to the depot.
You would think that the road would be fairly good going to the Taj but part of it was dirt and there was a huge traffic jam. After a couple of hours we stopped for the tea and a snack/breakfast. Very nice. There are tourist restaurants, dhabas, along the way. This one happened to be indoors and there were nice looking brick or some form of cement cabins, a lawn, a horse for the kids to have rides on and a decent bathroom. I talked to four from a North Carolina university attending some sort of special undergraduate conference, two professors and two students.
We first went to Agra Fort. I can't tell you too much about it. The guide was not the most clear. It is a World Heritage site and right across from the Taj. It was built during the Mughal Empire days, built mostly during the 16th century by Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal.
After the fort we had lunch at a restaurant where we purchased our own food and I sat with an Indian family up from Chennai. He was an engineer and she was a teacher and there 14 year old daughter was with them. I asked her if she spoke a little English and she said yes and all her schooling is in English. She was shy as kids are that age. I told her she was very pretty and she was, of course, embarrassing her, but her Dad was very proud.
The Taj is all that you might think it is. It is breathtaking. I had my photo taken in front of it. It just seemed like the right thing to do. All I can tell you is that 22 is the magic number. The Chennai family and I stood in line to go inside the Taj, but unfortunately it was getting too late so we had to drop out of line. I figured out why our guide was rushing us to get through Agra Fort. No matter it was beautiful and the sky was blue. I figured it would be nice and hazy or polluted like Delhi, but it was just a beautiful day.
Stopped at a road stop on our way home. Had some peanuts that were roasting. Not so good. Later stopped at a dhabas. The Indian engineer asked me how I knew what to order (you go up to the counter and they bring it to you). I had to admit that right in Bangor, Maine there is an Indian restaurant and a Pakistani Restaurant. And I've been to Pakistan
Got back around 11:30 The bus was dropping off a couple so at the suggestion of my North Carolina friends
I asked whether we were going to be anywhere near where I am staying. He said right there so the other person on the bus walked out with me and we went over to the rickshaws. All of them were clamoring for me. The winner was the one who knew the colony (called colonies, enclaves, sectors for neighborhoods) I was staying in. So another exhilarating ride into the night.
Now on to Bangladesh.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Indian Institute of Public Administration: Right to Information
12/10/2010 I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) with PS Bawa, Transparency International's Chairman. IIPA provides training and research on public administration and policy topics. They also publish the Indian Journal of Public Administration. Most relevant to this topic is its volume on the Right to Information.
That day, IPII was hosting a day long seminar for employees of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, a contractor of the state of India on the the 2005 Right to Information law The seminar was entitled, Initiation for Change: Addressing the Civil Society Expectations, Right to Information. ONGC wanted to be better aware of what they needed to share with the public. ONGC was the first adopter of the Integrity Pact, sponsored by Transparency International, to encourage honest business and stop corruption by ensuring that information is readily accessible and most importantly establishing a code of conduct for doing business.. On its website, you can see that ONGC has embraced the idea; it publishes its promotional programs and salary ranges for its executive, corporate governance, code of conduct, and annual reports. ONGC receives public funding so it is covered under the law. It wants to continue this effort by better understanding what it's responsibilities are under the right to know.
The panel I heard included Transparency International's chair, a faculty member of the Institute who was a journalist, and an attorney who presents to the Supreme Court.
India's agencies are all to have public information officers to spread the word about the public's right to information. As one speaker put it, you don't have the right to information if you don't have knowledge of it.
The law requires that authorities publish information such as what ONGC has already published but also "publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect the public." It should also "provide reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected persons." Obviously this is a rather broad ranging, comprehensive law. The law even states that when a person cannot write or use electronic means to request information, a PIO should assist. The Supreme Court of India is even trying to figure out what it needs to publish regarding hiring practices. Even politicians' records must be known. This is an extension of the 1988 Prevention of Corruption Act and the Central Information Commission is responsible for its implementation and arbiter if a PIO refuses a request for information. Mr. Bawa has asked the Central Information Commission to promulgate rules on this as a Right to Information Request.
What ONGC learned was to keep good records about their contracts and contracting with other companies. There is a fine if a public information officer does not do so, but the panel wanted to make it clear that the benefit of this law was that the attendees were citizens and they might wish information themselves one day.
Until 2005, the law and the attitude was more akin to keep everything secret. The need to know basis was that you don't need to know. Under the new law, one can think of the process in steps to make this law work 1) freedom of information 2) the right of people to information that affects them, 3) the right to access to the information. What Bawa suggested was that the Commission investigate what information is requested and working on making that more widely available.
It now requires pro-active disclosure not simply a method to request information. In that sense it is different from the US law in which it is a request process. There is no central location for requesting federal agency information. Additionally, with the increasing reliance on the web and directives from presidents and cabinet officials, the availability of information in the US has never been greater.
That day, IPII was hosting a day long seminar for employees of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, a contractor of the state of India on the the 2005 Right to Information law The seminar was entitled, Initiation for Change: Addressing the Civil Society Expectations, Right to Information. ONGC wanted to be better aware of what they needed to share with the public. ONGC was the first adopter of the Integrity Pact, sponsored by Transparency International, to encourage honest business and stop corruption by ensuring that information is readily accessible and most importantly establishing a code of conduct for doing business.. On its website, you can see that ONGC has embraced the idea; it publishes its promotional programs and salary ranges for its executive, corporate governance, code of conduct, and annual reports. ONGC receives public funding so it is covered under the law. It wants to continue this effort by better understanding what it's responsibilities are under the right to know.
The panel I heard included Transparency International's chair, a faculty member of the Institute who was a journalist, and an attorney who presents to the Supreme Court.
India's agencies are all to have public information officers to spread the word about the public's right to information. As one speaker put it, you don't have the right to information if you don't have knowledge of it.
The law requires that authorities publish information such as what ONGC has already published but also "publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect the public." It should also "provide reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected persons." Obviously this is a rather broad ranging, comprehensive law. The law even states that when a person cannot write or use electronic means to request information, a PIO should assist. The Supreme Court of India is even trying to figure out what it needs to publish regarding hiring practices. Even politicians' records must be known. This is an extension of the 1988 Prevention of Corruption Act and the Central Information Commission is responsible for its implementation and arbiter if a PIO refuses a request for information. Mr. Bawa has asked the Central Information Commission to promulgate rules on this as a Right to Information Request.
What ONGC learned was to keep good records about their contracts and contracting with other companies. There is a fine if a public information officer does not do so, but the panel wanted to make it clear that the benefit of this law was that the attendees were citizens and they might wish information themselves one day.
Until 2005, the law and the attitude was more akin to keep everything secret. The need to know basis was that you don't need to know. Under the new law, one can think of the process in steps to make this law work 1) freedom of information 2) the right of people to information that affects them, 3) the right to access to the information. What Bawa suggested was that the Commission investigate what information is requested and working on making that more widely available.
It now requires pro-active disclosure not simply a method to request information. In that sense it is different from the US law in which it is a request process. There is no central location for requesting federal agency information. Additionally, with the increasing reliance on the web and directives from presidents and cabinet officials, the availability of information in the US has never been greater.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
A Talk with the Chairman of Transparency International, India
Dec 10. I visited with the Chairman of Transparency International India today. After attending the Anti-Corruption Day sponsored by the UN, I wanted meet with SP Bawa, the Chair. He is a former Indian Police Service official and spoke at the conference. I asked him about the problems with the Indian police system. He had been with the Delhi Police for a number of years. India has an opportunity to reform law enforcement from both the top and bottom down. The Indian Police Service are federal appointees who pass a civil service test. They are then top officials in each state. The constabulary are chosen in their own states. The IPS move from post to post.
He mentioned that one of the problems is that there is no consistency of vision for law enforcement to be a service to the public. One IPS officer might institute a positive program only to have it disbanded when the next person comes along. He mentioned that he instituted crossing guards at school and even trained older kids to serve as wardens at the crossings. This is an absolute necessity since driving is so crazy. But it went away when he left. He thought that police needed more than the physical training and the proforma training on ethics and honesty. It not in their minds to consider anything else but legal obligations. They do not relate their appointments as part of a constitutional requirement to protect rights. Article 21 states No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. Article 21 states No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. This has been interpreted to assure the right to live with human dignity, free from exploitation.
On a positive note, he believes in mission driven policing based on India’s constitution. He borrows from Karl Popper ideas: minimize hardship (create options), share hardship (be empathetic), do unto others—turn it around to do not do unto others what you would not want done to you.
After talking for awhile we then went to the Indian Institute for Public Administration. It was hosting a training program for a govt contracted oil and gas agency on the 2005 Right to Information law. More about that later.
Empowering Citizens to Combat Corruption Seminar
Dec 9
On December 9th I attended the Anti-Corruption Day conference sponsored by the UN0DC, the UN office of Drugs and Crime and India Vigilance Commission Conference. I rangled an invitation after visiting and talking with the Director of Transparency International here in India. The office is off a busy street in warren of little buildings with trees surrounding it. Transparency International lobbies for changes to reduce corruption, primarily by indirectly seeking to influence through its corruption rating index and by lobbying super NGOs such as the world bank (Nongovernmental agencies or nonprofits) to keep a tighter rein on how their money is used by reporting requirements and denying funding in the future.
Now back to the Central Vigilance Commission. What a name! Can you imagine having a state agency called the Central Vigilance Commission. It is a body that is to refer complaints to government agencies to investigate, somewhat like asking the fox not to eat the chickens when you put him the coop. It doesn’t have any real investigative powers or an ability to prosecute either informally through some sort of mediation or by putting forward a complaint to public prosecutors. What it was showing off at this conference is a start of some sort. It was showing a website where you could now lodge a complaint and follow it, the process through the system. It’s called Vig Eye on the web.
This was quite a coup to attend this. Guards there to check you and a UN sponsored event! You had to have a formal invitation which I did via email. There were flowers everywhere and in front of the speakers. The day began with lighting a flame by the first speakers to symbolize unity in fighting corruption. After each speaker had his/her turn, he/she was given a bouquet. What was interesting was that the former commissioner of the Central Vigilance Commission, Shri (Mr.) N. Vittal, gave a strong opening speech that this would be nothing but a paper tiger. He advocated a different approach, a punitive approach doesn’t work since corruption is so rampant. A participative approach, one of collective action was necessary to stop corruption, such as the UN Global Compact, Peer Review to identify groups who abided by laws against giving bribes, strengthening transparency, that is accountability of government, ethics education for citizens and officials. It subverted the rule of law. He and others used words from economics, asking for a bribe is the demand side, giving a bribe is the supply side. As he stated, collusive corruption is voluntary; bribes are demanded.
Speakers were very positive about e-governance reducing corruption. Getting permits and licenses and other government documents would gradually go on-line. Then there would be no one to bribe because it would decrease human interaction. Oddly, as US state governments began to embrace customer service, the interaction is now gone because of e-government.
What was left unsaid was that the poor who are indisputably more affected by corruption will not have access to E-governance unless there is a comparable plan to put computers in public spaces just as in the US we have made a concerted effort to have computers in libraries
Thursday, December 9, 2010
UN Anti-Corruption Day: Just Say No
December 9th was UN Anti-Corruption Day. While I was visiting South Asia I learned the terrible price citizens pay for corruption. Whereas the United States ranks 7.1 with 10 being the least corrupt, India ranks 3.3 and Bangladesh ranks 2. 4 Some of the Scandinavian countries, Canada and Australia rank as the least corrupt.
The saying "just say no" has to do with drugs in the United States, but in India, it means say no when a bribe is requested by a public servant for services. That must be hard for the average person or poor person to do since they are giving money to grease the palm so that a service that is necessary such as getting a license, permit, or other official document will occur sooner than later. It may be easier for industry to just say no. As a UN backed campaign says, "your no counts." If a business is an American business trying to get permits, say, in India, the business is governed by an US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Transparency International lobbied in 1998 to put more teeth into this act. Transparency International is a nonprofit that works with business, super NGOs such as the World Bank, to improve reporting of how money is spent for public purposes and by business. Without transparency, TI reasons, the poor, in the end are most affected with loss of jobs, with loss of quality of life
But it is not really enough to have a law, it takes moral and ethical business practices to reduce corruption. What Transparency International suggests is that there are power in numbers. If more businesses agreed to not give bribes then they might have more success in stopping corruption. Other nonprofits such as Ipaidabribe.com (which asks people to record when they gave a bribe, didn't give a bribe, or a public servant refused a bribe) take the approach of showing how much money is siphoned off and shaming government for its action. Another nonprofit, the Fifth Pillar sponsors a zero rupee note to give to those who ask for bribes. This idea has spread to other countries and now the Fifth Pillar is creating zero denomination "money" to be used in other countries.
What surprised me most in India was that the police were one of the most corrupt units of government. We must be thankful that we are Americans, and our problems are minor. Rarely do you read of bribes of police officers. Indians fear their police. There is little to no understanding of the idea of "to protect and serve," let alone community policing. This undermines the whole of civic society. When government law enforcement officials are corrupt there is no recourse at the lowest level of government that has regular interaction with the public. In India the Supreme Court intervenes extensively by mandating reforms, but that is not really enough. Political officials and the highest level of law enforcement must believe it is important for officers to be honest and help citizens. Then they must institute training and reinforce it by their words and actions.
Right now that seems laughable when the the India Government Commission that sponsored a conference on transparency for Anti-Corruption Day may have as its highest commissioner a man accused of taking bribes.
The Supreme Court is considering whether it is a job requirement that the commissioner be beyond repute. I'd say the answer is yes!
The saying "just say no" has to do with drugs in the United States, but in India, it means say no when a bribe is requested by a public servant for services. That must be hard for the average person or poor person to do since they are giving money to grease the palm so that a service that is necessary such as getting a license, permit, or other official document will occur sooner than later. It may be easier for industry to just say no. As a UN backed campaign says, "your no counts." If a business is an American business trying to get permits, say, in India, the business is governed by an US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Transparency International lobbied in 1998 to put more teeth into this act. Transparency International is a nonprofit that works with business, super NGOs such as the World Bank, to improve reporting of how money is spent for public purposes and by business. Without transparency, TI reasons, the poor, in the end are most affected with loss of jobs, with loss of quality of life
But it is not really enough to have a law, it takes moral and ethical business practices to reduce corruption. What Transparency International suggests is that there are power in numbers. If more businesses agreed to not give bribes then they might have more success in stopping corruption. Other nonprofits such as Ipaidabribe.com (which asks people to record when they gave a bribe, didn't give a bribe, or a public servant refused a bribe) take the approach of showing how much money is siphoned off and shaming government for its action. Another nonprofit, the Fifth Pillar sponsors a zero rupee note to give to those who ask for bribes. This idea has spread to other countries and now the Fifth Pillar is creating zero denomination "money" to be used in other countries.
What surprised me most in India was that the police were one of the most corrupt units of government. We must be thankful that we are Americans, and our problems are minor. Rarely do you read of bribes of police officers. Indians fear their police. There is little to no understanding of the idea of "to protect and serve," let alone community policing. This undermines the whole of civic society. When government law enforcement officials are corrupt there is no recourse at the lowest level of government that has regular interaction with the public. In India the Supreme Court intervenes extensively by mandating reforms, but that is not really enough. Political officials and the highest level of law enforcement must believe it is important for officers to be honest and help citizens. Then they must institute training and reinforce it by their words and actions.
Right now that seems laughable when the the India Government Commission that sponsored a conference on transparency for Anti-Corruption Day may have as its highest commissioner a man accused of taking bribes.
The Supreme Court is considering whether it is a job requirement that the commissioner be beyond repute. I'd say the answer is yes!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Transparency and Policing in India
Imagine my surprise to pick up the paper, The Times of India, and see that one of the articles on the front page was about transparency efforts in the Delhi Police. Corruption is considered to be endemic in India and the police are not exempted. In fact, the police have a reputation for being corrupt. While most Americas feel comfortable calling the police or going to the police station, that is not the case in India. They are feared as authoritarian and ignorant of rights.
The Courts intervene much more so than in the United States and this time, a division bench (lower level court) has order Delhi police (similar to the Washington DC police) to put all arrests with the purpose of the arrest on the web. This is to be effective as of 2011 Feb, a very near date by bureaucracy standards (and in the author's opinion probably not feasible). This is much more than the police beat or police blotter Americans find in many papers that lists what the police did based upon dispatches. This relates to the constitutional requirement of a presumption of innocence of an accused and his or her right to know what the charges are. Further the court declared that this was a public document and therefore, the public not just the accused has the right to know. This actually goes beyond the current Indian law that allows an accused to obtain a court to obtain nformation on his or her violation of the law.
In the same paper, the prospective appointee to be Chief Commissioner of the Civil Vigilance Commission, an investigatory body to root out corruption, is facing sharp attacks from the media and the Supreme Court of India. He has been accused of taking bribes and is awaiting trial. This is hardly the ethical or moral high road for a parliament to take if the legislators feel that the Commission is important no matter what the outcome of his trial.
Finally, the Supreme Court is pressing for states to pass reforms to their state police acts. These suggested reforms are based upon a National Commission that was set up to make recommendations to the states to up-date and modernise law enforcement. Whether the suggestions are good or bad depends upon which of the many reforms you look at. What is clear is law enforcement is largely an authoritarian hierarchical structure and as such it is not particularly responsive to pressing needs of the public to feel secure and to serve the public. As such each state's police are insular, lack accountability and transparency. In a country that is fighting terrorism as the US is, it needs the support and the help of citizens to prevent terrorism. It is hard to do if police do not see its role as to protect and serve, the motto of many a city police force in the US,
These newspaper articles could not be more timely. 9 Dec is UN anti-corruption day and Transparency International (where I visited today) is a participant in the day hosted by the UN. I will attending the Engagement of a Civil Society in Addressing Corruption. I look forward to learning more about what India has been doing. The former Chief of the Civil Vigilance Commission will be chairing the panel.
The Courts intervene much more so than in the United States and this time, a division bench (lower level court) has order Delhi police (similar to the Washington DC police) to put all arrests with the purpose of the arrest on the web. This is to be effective as of 2011 Feb, a very near date by bureaucracy standards (and in the author's opinion probably not feasible). This is much more than the police beat or police blotter Americans find in many papers that lists what the police did based upon dispatches. This relates to the constitutional requirement of a presumption of innocence of an accused and his or her right to know what the charges are. Further the court declared that this was a public document and therefore, the public not just the accused has the right to know. This actually goes beyond the current Indian law that allows an accused to obtain a court to obtain nformation on his or her violation of the law.
In the same paper, the prospective appointee to be Chief Commissioner of the Civil Vigilance Commission, an investigatory body to root out corruption, is facing sharp attacks from the media and the Supreme Court of India. He has been accused of taking bribes and is awaiting trial. This is hardly the ethical or moral high road for a parliament to take if the legislators feel that the Commission is important no matter what the outcome of his trial.
Finally, the Supreme Court is pressing for states to pass reforms to their state police acts. These suggested reforms are based upon a National Commission that was set up to make recommendations to the states to up-date and modernise law enforcement. Whether the suggestions are good or bad depends upon which of the many reforms you look at. What is clear is law enforcement is largely an authoritarian hierarchical structure and as such it is not particularly responsive to pressing needs of the public to feel secure and to serve the public. As such each state's police are insular, lack accountability and transparency. In a country that is fighting terrorism as the US is, it needs the support and the help of citizens to prevent terrorism. It is hard to do if police do not see its role as to protect and serve, the motto of many a city police force in the US,
These newspaper articles could not be more timely. 9 Dec is UN anti-corruption day and Transparency International (where I visited today) is a participant in the day hosted by the UN. I will attending the Engagement of a Civil Society in Addressing Corruption. I look forward to learning more about what India has been doing. The former Chief of the Civil Vigilance Commission will be chairing the panel.
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