ACTS ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, BENGALURU
COURSE: MASTER OF THEOLOGY
SUBJECT: SOCIETAL ISSUES, ANALYSIS AND APPLICATION
NAME: SEBASTIN J K – M.TH. 1 (MISSION) PRESENTING DATE: 25.07.2023
SUBMITTED TO: REV. DR. PAUL MOHAN RAJ
PAPER PRESENTATION ON
CHRONIC UNEMPLOYMENT AND RURAL UNDER – DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
Corruption is one of the social; evils found in all societies, and it is one of the biggest threats to the well-
being of society. It degrades the quality of the services and also ruins the life of the common person. It is
essential to understand how corruption works to be exposed and the corrupt can be held responsible for
creating a corrupt system.
Corruption
Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense undertaken by a person or an organization entrusted
in a position of authority to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one’s personal gain. It may involve
many categories such as bribery, influence peddling, and embezzlement.1
Corruption can also hinder the economic growth of a nation and aggravate poverty and inequality.
Corruption is deceitful behaviour that people in positions of power exhibit for personal gain. It is most
commonly seen among government officials. It included extortion, networking, election result, and money
laundering.
India is regarded as one of the countries where corruption has become very much widespread in recent years.
Corruption is one of the factors that has contributed to the degradation of Indian politics corruption in India
has become deep-rooted and its growth is unchecked and unhindered.2
Meaning and Definition
The meaning of the concept of corruption can be made clear by means of some definitions.
a. The simple words for corruption refer to “an act of bribery.”
b. Dictionary defines it as – “ an inducement to wrong by bribery or other unlawful means: a departure
from what it pure and correct.”
1
Y. K. Sharma, Indian society: Issues and problems (Agra: Lakshmi Narain Agarwal, 2010), 366-367.
2
C.N. Shankar Rao, Indian Social Problems: A Sociological Perspective (New Delhi: S. Chand and Company
Limited,2015), 322-323.
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c. D.H. Bailey - “Misuse of authority as a result of consideration of personal gain which need not be
monetary.”
d. Bhargava – “act of commission or omission by a public servant for securing pecuniary or other
material advantage or indirectly for himself, his family or friends is corruption.” 3
e. According to Andriski - “Corruption is the use of public power for private advantage in ways that
transgress some formal rule or Law.”4
Characteristics of corruption:
a. Corruption refers to an irregular illegal and immoral practice associated without public life.
b. If involves dereliction of duty, moral and legal lapses.5
c. Persons party to corruption tend to neglect their prescribed duty deliberately.
d. It involves the practice of receiving bribes not only for getting the wrong things done but also for
getting the right things done at the right time.
e. It involves the abuse of power associated with a public office or public life.6
Corruption: A Historical Perspective:
Corruption is a global phenomenon. It is found in every society in one or other forms since time immemorial.
It existed in ancient Egyptian, Babylonian, and Hebrew societies. Ancient Indian society was not an
exception to it. Corruption in India was limited in ancient times among people of the upper classes. Today
corruption spread to various levels such as villages, towns, cities, states, and central government activities
after the democratic government.7
Causes of corruption: C K Shanker Rao Says – “Corruption is like blood cancer. It has deep roots in the
country. As time moves more and more people are being swept by the move of corruption.”8
These causes of corruption are many and complex and the promise of the parties to eradicate corruption is
not hard to implement. Corruption is primarily seen in jobs, business, promotions, election campaigns, sports,
government, the private sector, etc…
1. Low Pay scales and Wages
Most of the employees in the government sector are paid low wages and salaries. Hence some employees
revert to corruption for more financial benefits.
2. Low Job opportunities.
3
Y.K. Sharma, Indian Society, 367.
4
A. Subramanya, Social Problems (Bangalore: Subhas Stories Books Corner, 2000), 361.
5
Y.K. Sharma, Indian Society, 367.
6
Y.K. Sharma, Indian Society, 367 – 368.
7
A. Subramanya, Social Problems,361-362.
8
C. N. Shanker Rao, Sociology (New Delhi: S. Chanda and Company Limited, 1990), 622.
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Due to the lack of job opportunities, many people opt to bribe authorities to get a job offer.
3. Lack of Strict and fast punishments
Even if someone is found guilty or even caught red-handed by the anti-corruption officials or media, the
convicts get less punishment.
4. Lack of fear of a bad reputation: If a person is corrupt or has done some unacceptable misconduct, they
have to be avoided and not be respected.
5. Lack of Public Unity
The public openly criticizes corruption, but interestingly there is no unity among the public to stop
corruption.
If the public stands united against corruption so that no one is ready to offer bribes to get their work done,
then the corrupt officials will have no other option but to work in a corruption-free manner
6. Lack of transparency in affairs and deals
Many appointments or seat allocation processes like in education, contracts, job, and employee income
reports (wealth possession) lack transparency. This lack of transparency in the processes provides loopholes
for corruption.
7. Lack of Independent detective agency
Lack of an independent detective agency to investigate with full power and freedom to expose the corrupt
individuals.
8. Lack of state funding for elections
State funding for polls is the best way to beat corruption.
Political parties receive party donations through public or businesses and will not disclose them to the fullest.
9. The option of many political parties
In a democracy, anyone can establish a political party.
If a political party wins, the party members will desire to expand the party all over the country.
To do so, they need enough financial reserves. Once they come into power, they opt for corrupt means to
make the wealth necessary to expand the party.
10. Lack of enough powers for the judiciary.
The judicial system has low options to punish someone who is found to be guilty.
11. Lack of accountability
The employees in government offices do not perform to their par excellence.
12. Encouragement of unhealthy competition
Competition in business is a good sign for the quality of service to be delivered.
But in developing nations, there is an encouragement of unhealthy competition.
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These causes of corruption have to be eliminated for the better growth of the nation.9
Corruption in high places:
1. Political corruption: political corruption is the main motivating factor for organized crime in the
modern societies. Political corruption is a willful faliuare to perform a specified duty on order to
receive some direct personal gain.
According to observation of Elliot and merril anot political corruption. “political corruption and
organised crime are so closely related that one cannot be considered without the other.”
Corruption among politicans is alos due to patronage principle adopted by them. According to certain
appoinments are exchanged to win the largest amount of political support (vote). Anything related to
developmental activity has been unashamedly used as a cover for political corruption by thje political
parties and the leadership.10
2. Corruption by Police: is a form of police misconduct in which law enforcement offciers end up
breaking their opolitical contract abd abusing their power for personal gain. This ty[pes of
corruptionmay involve one or a group of officers. Internal police corruption is a challenge to public
trust, cohesion of departmental polices, human rights and legal violations involving serious
consequences. Public corruption can take many forms such as bribary.
A. Soliciting or accepting bribes: not reporting or not thaking charge against them and reciving
money.
B. Flouting: using falsified evidence, there are also sitivations where law enforcement officers may
deliberately and systematically participate in organized crime them selves.
C. Selective enforcement: hiding internal and departmental problems, both from public view, and
also from inter departmental reivews and investigations.11
3. Corruption and businessman: corruption cannot be practical by persons in authority alone. Here
businessman are prepares to pay, in order to exchange of privileges, te committee on prevention of
corruption – 1964 observed “Corruption can exist only if there is some one willing to corrupt and
capable of corrupting.” This corruption takes in order avoid taxes, trafficking in licences,
tranformoney, and for the property sale and purchase.12
There are three types of corruption in business:
a. Bribery: the most prolific form of corruption in business. It could take place in public official and
private individual.
9
Ranga N R, “Causes of Curroption,” mind controversy mind of peace, November 27,2022, accessed
on 22.08.2023. https://www.mindcontroversy.com/causes-of-corruption/#google_vignette.
10
G. Subramanya, Social Problem, 366-367.
11
“Police Corruption,” Accessed on 22.08.2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_corruption.
12
G. Subramanya, Social Problem, 367-368.
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b. Fraud: by which officers of the company misuse their office for personal gain. In india,
vijyamallya, Neeraj Modi etc…
c. Embezzlement: taking the company’s goods or funds dor personal gain is called embezzlement.
Corruption in lower palces:
1. Corruption by individuals: which citizens may break the lwas without bribery the officials, means one
may pay less tax by sharing less profit. This corruption may be equated with criminal act.
2. Corruption in public service:
a. Lack of information: lack of information that makes it diificlt for citizens to know what they
should do to get acces to servies, and what they are nentittled to, once they gain acces to services.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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https://tradingeconomics.com/india/unemployment-rate. June. 2023.
Nigamshatma. Rural Developemnt programs of India complete List (1st August 2022). Online:
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