By Dr Arvind Kumar
Undoubtedly, we have achieved tremendous development in different fields of the society and the fast pace of economic growth is prone to rank India at the third slot after US and China soon. However, this mad race for material progress has been achieved at the expense of moral degradation and decline of social ethos. Avarice, corruption, dishonesty, apathy to one’s duty, violence, and host of other evils has become the key mantra to attain material prosperity.
Are we inclined to accept this sordid state of affairs replete with such evils affecting our society? Perhaps not. The question arises as to how to go ahead with doing away with all such evils. The remedy lies in revamping our present education system wherein the due emphasis on moral values should be accorded. There should be awards instituted for the students in schools for showing honesty, discipline, feeling of tolerance, brotherhood and trithfulness. This procedure will encourage students to emulate the example of award-winning student.
Similar reformatory measures should be adhered to in the public and private sectors to motivate the employees. The employees indulging in such evils should be awarded severe and deterrent punishment, including forefeiture of pension benefits.
The penal punishment for economic offences like frauds, corruption, scams etc. is very lenient and the offenders are seldom discouraged or deterred not to indulge in such nasty affairs. Besides, the legal system is so complicated that such cases linger on for years. Apart from stringent punishment, there should be summary trials of economic offenders.
The media is called upon to exercise vigilance and as part of its social responsibility should highlight such cases and expose the culprits. The media should not use reporting of such cases just to augment its TRP rates. Rather there should be a sort of healthy competition among different news channels in exposing such cases. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well as media organizations should institute awards to incentivize the media in exposing such cases.
Our friends in legal profession should also show boldness in not accpting the cases of such persons who are poisoning our social system. The solidarity of legal profession in this regard can go a long way in discouraging the offenders.
The civil societies are also called upon to play vital role in reviving old value system in the society through public awareness programmes, seminars, public meetings and workshops. Another step that needs priority is to encourage Public-Public Partnershi (PUP) and limit Public-Private Partnership to tide over corruption, redtapism, inefficiency and delay in implementation of projects. Material progress along with moral progress is essential.
