By some estimates, since gaining independence from the British in 1947, India has lost over $20 trillion to corruption. That’s $ 311 billion per each post independence year.
According to the Swiss Bankers Association (as per an article published in the Hindu Business Line) approximately $1.4 trillion of corruption generated wealth is stashed away by Indian politicians and other corrupt officials in Swiss and other overseas banks. India’s nearest rival according to this data is Russia with a mere $470 billion.
According to Transparency International, over 50% of Indians have reported first-hand experience of having to pay bribes to get a job done in a public office.
In the current parliament, 162 out of 522 members face criminal charges, as reported by the Association of Democratic Record, a non-government organization.
As per The Asian Age and other sources, since 2010 alone, 12 Right to Information (RTI) activists and whistle blowers have been killed.
Corrupt people are wealthy and powerful. They remove whatever obstacle is there in the way. But if people are united under a strong leader like Anna Hazare they can fight better.
