More Power to People

What does the Lokpal bill mean to us? What constitutes the elements of an accurate and efficient anti-corruption agency? If you have answers popping in your head,it's about time you voiced them out.

Corruption Free India (CFI) is a platform where Indians can suggest,discuss and make sure that the Lokpal Bill passes successfully

What does the Lokpal bill mean to us? What constitutes the elements of an accurate and efficient anti-corruption agency? If you have answers popping in your head,it’s about time you voiced them out. With social networking sites leading the way in inspiring revolutions,one no longer need spend time sloganeering on the streets. The Corruption Free India (CFI) campaign is led by young people who feel responsible for fighting against corruption. They take up the cause to compile ideas,suggestions and opinions of citizens who wish to voluntarily join the cause of ensuring a strong Lokpal Bill,as well as form a forum for them to connect and share their thoughts. We have the Jan Lokpal and the NCPRI version,each party claims to have come up with the perfect Bill. However,the Parliament must decide what is right, says Siddharth Jatar,member of the CFI movement and a lawyer by profession. Having worked with noted social activist Arvind Kejriwal,Jatar met people who were equally interested in the Lokpal Bill as he was. This inspired him to form a Google group to discuss issues and exchange ideas about the Bill. We have come up with an MP outreach programme wherein we ask people to get in touch with Members of Parliament by using power of social media and personal connections to find someone who has access to a Member of Parliament.”

CFI’s purpose is to encourage the entire country’s youth and media to speak as one and demand from the Parliament the passage of a strong Lokpal Bill. “so that it delivers a real outcome based on urgency,consensus and commitment,” adds Jatar. The campaign claims to be apolitical and non-partisan with a single-point agenda,which is the passage of a strong Lokpal Bill. Having studied the Jan Lokpal in detail due to his profession as a lawyer,Jatar even finds some inconsistencies. “We want the standing committee to include the best practises into the Bill. We are not judging whether the parliament should consider Aruna Roy’s or Anna Hazare’s suggestions,all we are concerned with is the outcome, emphasises Jatar.

CFI is developing its website,www.2011cfi.ning.com ,and has already created a page on Facebook (2011CFI),with over 600 members presently on it.

Mehak Budhrani,a 23-year-old student of law from the University of Pune,got involved with CFI through Facebook. I saw a post about the movement and I got very interested. I will be organising a youth walk in Pune later this week to involve more people into the campaign. We are touched by corruption everyday,I believe it’s time we did something about it, says Budhrani.

The CFI campaign hopes for the Lokpal Bill to consist elements as that ensure its trustworthiness,independence from executive interference,transparency,accountability,decentralisation,proactive focus on prevention,authority and powerful investigation and prosecution wings,fearlessness,and,above all,effectiveness.

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