Cut through that veil of secrecy

Cut through that veil of secrecy
V.B.N. Ram

Aropos your thought-provoking editorial, `Operation Clean-up' (March 24), I would like to say that arms agents would spare no effort to ensure a successful bid and are willing to pay a price for ensuring that this happens, based on a cost-benefit analysis. Politicians need funds to finance their party machine, election expenses and themselves and those inhabiting various rungs of the bureaucratic hierarchy could always do with some extra income. There is, therefore, a common interest in perpetuating corrupt practices.

In India, as perhaps everywhere else, any favour seeker must inter-alia be shown to have complied with all the formalities listed down. This, first and foremost, requires that their applications are entertained. In order that applications are not summarily rejected, they should comply with all the requisite procedures, or at least appear to be doing so, even though there could be some ``modification'' or ``adjustment'' subsequently. No one knows better than the bureaucrat the art of form filling and adhering to rules and regulations. It is this talent that they exploit with utmost efficiency for their private profit.

The importance of verifying the identity, bonafides and credibility of bidders and favour seekers is nowhere more crucial than in defence matters, for they concern the security of the nation. The Tehelka video tape revelations clearly establish that the system has failed, and that carefully laid-out parameters are being constantly violated.

So what are the systems that need to work to ensure that this does not happen? First, for the procurement of supplies, a decision-making committee comprising members of all the concerned departments must be constituted. It should function even at the applications screening stage, to ensure that this important procedure is not left purely at the mercy of the babus at the lower rung of the hierarchy as is now the case. Even at the earliest stages, this committee will have to ensure that no party is being ignored or being unduly favoured. Suppliers within India must establish their identity and credibility, substantiated with authenticated documents, as must overseas suppliers whose applications must be authenticated and channelised through India missions abroad.

Examining the quality, specifications, as well as the end use of the samples/prototypes and ensuing that they do indeed conform to requirements comes next. Verifying the track record of the suppliers is the subsequent step. They have then to be shortlisted and finally empanelled. At all these various stages, all the concerned departments must be involved. If these procedures are strictly adhered, they will go a long way in curbing irregularities. Many, or most of the above requirements, have already been specified in government rules and regulations but never -- alas -- adhered to in spirit! In any case, the human mind very often goes against the dictates of the conscience.

The role of middlemen in defence deals, or any deal for that matter, need not necessarily trigger corruption, provided the ground rules for their conduct are put in place and strictly followed. Just as the existence of road rules cannot prevent accidents from taking place but nevertheless limit their occurrence considerably, although corruption can never be completely wiped out, it can nevertheless be drastically reduced by effective regulation.