Corruption your NO counts

No i don8217;t want to pay bribe.But wait , will you ever say that? Will we ever refuse to pay a bribe to get work done?8230;well it doesn8217;t seem so8230;why wont i?.After all everything happens so easily and fast when you pay a bribe8230;but wait8230;what happens to the rules then?8230;what happens to protocol?8230;what happens to the scale of corruption in our country? Look what you have done to the ideals of Gandhi and other freedom fighters. my country is still not free.

India is terrorised, shaken8230;and damaged. At least we are waking up from our slumber now. These attacks could have been avoided.We didn8217;t require any help from the heavens. all that was required was for people to do what they are supposed to do.The police, the intelligence, the navy, the coastguard,the home ministry and the government. all they were supposed to do was their duty, their job for which they are paid.

But they didn8217;t, the intelligence reports,the repeated threats and the information was still struggling to find its way through corrupt officials , through their dusty desks , through their heavy pockets and finally it landed on the streets. It terrorised the common man, it killed hundreds, it destroyed our trust. I demand an answer to the questions that those people were asking when they were being shot at. I demand an answer to what their families are asking. I demand an answer to a question in each citizen8217;s mind: why?

Why didn8217;t the concerned organisations act on the information being given to them and treat it seriously? It is only intelligence failure and corruption which has led terrorism to seep into our system to a level where now we think that the whole system needs to be changed.

We as the future of this country have to wake up to the reality and realise that we can not take this any longer.The system has to be changed and we will change it. Corruption has seeped into our minds and created a world where there are no rules to be followed and no laws to be obeyed. Everything here happens when you show money.This year alone around 15 thousand crore rupees have lost their way from our pockets to the places and have unfortunately found their way into the pockets of corrupt officials.

We have to make sure such instances do not happen and for that we have to learn to say no to corruption.My country and its citizens deserve a better future, a place where there is peace and where law has a say.

B AAKASH
VIII-B, St Paul8217;s School, SDA Hauz Khas

2. If we think we can, we will
Corruption. A word that everyone loves to hate but no one comes forward to eradicate it. Why? We grumble about corruption but don8217;t take any steps to eradicate this evil? Instead of removing it, we rather promote it on a day to day basis by being a part of the chain some way or the other. Moreover, we refuse to accept any responsibility and keep on feeding this dinosaur more and more. Corruption has already eaten into our morality. It is an impairment of integrity, virtue and moral principles.nbsp;

Our hungry hands have compelled manufacturers to come up with counterfeit products. We have shops selling illegal, duplicate and pirated commodities at every nook and corner and we are their ready buyers.

They bribe the policemen, they bribe the officials of the concerned authority in order to ensure smooth running of their businesses. One can visit any shop in Sarojini Nagar and pick any Puma, Nike or Reebok merchandise correction 8212; the 8216;fake8217; merchandise. Well this is a hub for many youngsters to shop at. Not only garments but one can find top of the line watches and shoes at Ghaffar Market, again the duplicate ones! Well, there8217;s more. You can even buy your favorite PSP and computer games at throw away prices at Karol Bagh and pirated software from Nehru Place.

Smuggled goods are sold as their is a huge demand for them. But the fact is that this parasite of corruption is feeding on our economy. The pillar of economy which supports our country and its population is weakening. And who is to be blamed?? IT8217;S US! The Consumers!

The youth are the future of the country! The minimum we can do is to stop it at our level. Just celebrating Anti-Corruption Day on 9th December won8217;t help. Firm action needs to be taken. Stop purchasing pirated software, videogames and counterfeit merchandise! Stop back door entry into colleges! We are the leaders of tomorrow! Our little contribution can make a huge difference. Let us take a stand against corruption!

Your 8216;NO8217; does count! I dream of an India ten years down the line, free from corruption, bribery, piracy and forgery! A successful democracy! And this dream can be achieved! Because 8216;if we think we can, we will!8217;nbsp;

Vani Mehra
XI- Commerce, Tagore International School,
Vasant Viharnbsp;

3. Let8217;s try and give it a fight
We had shifted to Gurgaon a few weeks back. We needed a gas connection so my father contacted a dealer. He demanded 10 extra and said 8220; kya kare sahib, upar wale manageron ki pockets to garam karni hi padti hai8221;. My father was not as astounded as I was. My little brother accompanying us asked me 8220;Di, what did he mean by 8220;pocket garam karna8221;8230;8230;is he going to light up a fire or what??8221;

Indeed, how can a child, merely three-year-old, understand the Frankenstein of corruption which has spread its roots deeply in a so-called legitimate, accountable and democratic form of Government?

The fight against corruption is tough. But as in 1857, we need to realize and resurge the potential to revolt and repel within us and feed it with motivation, perseverance and of course, thoughtfulness.

Wake Up!! The Complacent Indian,
And choose the path of what is right
Let8217;s at least try and give it a fight.
Come 8211; on! India
Show the word around
Shoo! Away the monster of corruption
Because in the end
It is your 8220;NO8221; that Counts.

UDITA Makhija
X A, Blue Bells Model Sr. Secondary School,
Gurgaon

Other Notable Contributions By
Pushkar Sinha, XII C , Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar,
Megha Chopra, VIII A, Delhi Public School, Sushant Lok
Lipika Sukhija,XII ,New State Academy Sr.Sec.School,Pitampura
Jackson Thomas,XI-A,Don Bosco School,
Dona Mathew,IX,Holy Child Auxilium School, Vasant Vihar nbsp;
Jyotsna Narang, XII, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vasant Vihar,
Anshu Jaiswal, IX-A, Kalka Public School, Alaknanda
Dipanshu Gupta,VIII-A,Tagore International School,Vasant Vihar
Priansha Periwal, XII-C, Lancer8217;s Convent School, Rohini
Jasmeen, XI A, Bharti Public School, Mayur Vihar
Amit Shaji, XII B, Bharti Public School, Mayur Vihar
Priyanka Kapruwan, XII A, Bharti Public School, Mayur Vihar
Meenakshi Pandey, XII A, Bharti Public School, Mayur Vihar
Mohit Chhibber, XI 8211; A, K.R. Mangalam World School, Vikas Puri
Karan Talwar, XI 8211; A ,G.D.Goenka Public School, Vasant Kunj