Corruption is being seen as Delhi-centric, but the fact is that it exists at every level, Aruna Roy, renowned social and political activist, has said.
She was delivering the 28th Sardar Vallabhbhai memorial lecture at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here on Tuesday. “Corruption is woven into the fabric of our country. To curb this, we need to streamline and strengthen the functioning of panchayats which will ensure transparency and accountability. Right to Information Act and social media are of great help in this regard,” she said.
She lamented that the image of the police has been dented due to the lowest institutional credibility, increasing corruption and misgovernance. “The image of the police can be improved only if they allow a dialogue with people at large, and policemen should become better human beings,” she pointed out.
Today, governments are favour the rich and ignoring the poor, she noted. “The poor want equality and justice. Democracy must work for people, specially the poor, who are being denied their rights,” she said.
She expressed dissatisfaction over excessive use of police force against dissenters, who do not comply with the state’s ideology on varying issues. “In democracy, every citizen has a right to protest and dissent. Police should have political understanding and should not label protesters as Naxalities,” she said.
Further, she suggested that an inward communication policy be chalked out for the Academy and called for transparency in its functioning to increase credibility.