Anna Hazare, the celebrated Gandhian and a new icon for the Indian youth has set in motion a historic process which is likely to transform permanently the state’s response to corruption in the government. It is widely believed that at present there is no effective institution that can initiate investigation and prosecute the corrupt independently. The anti corruption activists genuinely believe that the Lokpal with enormous powers of investigating, prosecuting and punishing corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and judges will eventually eliminate corruption in the public governance system in the country. The underlying notion behind JanLokpal bill is that a strong deterrent is the necessary and sufficient condition to wipe out corruption. A fundamental understanding of the phenomena of corruption is necessary to analyze the relevance and feasibility of creating a formidable institution like Jan Lokpal. Even though corruption has many manifestations, it is basically originated from power.

Transparency International defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. All modern nation states including democratic ones wield enormous powers that even the most ruthless autocratic states of middle age would not have imagined. The propagation of state sponsored institutions meant to control the entire spectrum of social life of people from cradle to grave yard has become an accepted reality of all modern societies. This unbridled expansion of state power under the guise of providing an order and direction to the chaotic social order is the prime culprit of cultivating a conducive ecosystem for corruption by the misuse and abuse of power. So to eradicate corruption all unnecessary centers of power and offices have to be abolished. But unfortunately people who fight against corruption and civil society members have not understood this reality. So, they argue for more powerful institutions to cure a malady which is the side effect of state power.

The method of punishing the corrupt alone is insufficient either to end corruption or to induce efficiency in the government. Actually the creation of a ‘lean government’ is the first major requirement to end corruption. A lean government with clear and transparent regulations and negligible allowances for discretionary and arbitrary decisions is a prerequisite for faster economic development which is capable of uplifting the masses from abject poverty. When a comprehensive information technology infrastructure is established ,human interface in public service can be reduced by introducing concepts like ‘controlled cash transfer’ instead of maintaining a corrupt bureaucratic system for providing various subsidies to the poor.The problematic issues of corruption and inefficiency in public delivery system can be tackled only by initiating thorough administrative reforms which shall provide adequate motivation for honest people in the service. As the corruption is the misuse of power, only a democratic restructuring of centers of power can mitigate the side effects of power. If the involvement of various stake holders including people is made mandatory for the selection and promotion of all major officials, the temptation to be corrupt is reduced significantly. Then our officials shall realize that their position is not a license to exploit the people but a gift to them by the people only for serving them.

Power has a major influence on social structure. In a democratic state, the power delegated to various institutions is only to ensure that justice is delivered to every citizen impartially. Unfortunately power has the most negative influencing factor on man. Even though democracy is a governance system which ensures people’s control over centers of power, direct control over institutions of state is very limited. Misuse of power and corruption are the direct consequence of this paradox. Anna Hazare’s movement has presented a historic opportunity to establish a more transparent, open and humane governance system in the country. So, the present agents of change should explore more possibilities of reform outside the conservative idea of punishing the corrupt.