Corrupt police gets zero rupee banknotes

“Let us save the country. But this time, the enemy is within.”

That statement is to be found on the non-governmental organization 5th Pillars webpage. To stop corruption, they have printed out one million zero-rupee banknotes. The notes are to be given to officials who wants a bribe for conducting his or hers job.

The zero rupee-notes resemble the 50 rupee note. On one side to the note is a picture of Mahatma Gandhi and the text “eliminate corruption at all levels”. Instead of the promise of redemption by the Reserve Bank, it says “I promise to neither accept nor give bribe”.

The act aims to embarrass corrupt officials and wake a strong public opinion against the system of bride-demanding.

“The zero currency note is a tool to help you achieve the goal of zero corruption. The note is a way for any human being to say NO to corruption without the fear of facing an encounter with persons in authority” say 5th Pillar on their webpage.

India battles with a huge bribe problem. Citizens are made to cough up USD 94 million on a yearly basis to avail basic and need based public services, according to Transparency International India and Centre for Media Studies. Worst are the police, who demanded bribes from almost half of the households 2007.

“This kind of corruption that denies people their entitlement to basic and need based services is, many of which may be ‘free’ by law, results in the poor finding themselves at the losing end of the corruption chain”, said Admiral (Retd.) R H Tahiliani, Chairman of TII.

“This increases disparity in income and deepens poverty”, he continues.