5th Pillar – Empowering Citizens to Tackle Corruption
Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.
Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?
Vijay
Anand
5th Pillar
1‐5 years
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Scaling (the next step will be growing impact on a regional or even global scale)
Operating for 1‐5 years
In 2006, when I arrived at the Mumbai International airport, a customs official pulled me aside under the pretext that I had a ‘lot of electronics that were subject to customs duty’. When I explained that I was well within the ‘allowable’ limits that I could carry as a NRI, the official asked me to wait aside and informed me that I had to see his superior who was neither going to arrive at his desk, nor was there any effort to take me to him. I then pulled out a Zero Rupee Note which I was experimenting with at that time, and handed it out to the official who had originally stopped me, indicating that I had to leave as I had immediate official commitments after I exited the airport. I offered to come back, if I still had to meet with the superior official. After taking a detailed look at the ZRN, the official’s tone and body language changed dramatically to the extent of becoming over-friendly in his interactions, and seeing me off with much cordiality. This was the ‘Aha’ moment when I realized that the ZRN, if placed in the hands of a helpless citizen, can save him/her from being harassed by corrupt officials and could serve as an effective anti-corruption tool.
ZRN: The organization has distributed more than 2 million printed ZRNs since its introduction in 2007. Countries like Nepal, Ghana, Mexico, Argentina and Peru contacted 5th Pillar for consent to use the Zero Currency Note concept, and adopted it to fight corruption in their respective geographies.
Corruption Reporting Platform: We have received reports and helped resolve issues related to basic services such as securing birth/death certificates, ration card, voter ID card,etc. This platform has game-changing potential for the anti-corruption agenda to tackle large-scale corruption involving the nexus of politics and business.
5th Pillar’s anti-corruption initiatives such as 'FREEDOM from CORRUPTION' awareness & sensitization program for Youth, free training/workshops on the RTI ACT and practical tools to tackle corruption has penetrated over 1200 colleges and schools, reaching over 500,000 students, mobilizing them into the zero-corruption pledge “I PROMISE TO NEITHER ACCEPT NOR GIVE BRIBE”.
A cumulative total of 600,000 people have attended 5th Pillar’s anti-corruption awareness/training workshops.
• The plan is to replicate 5th Pillar’s program success in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to few other states in India – Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana. Discussions and efforts are in progress to recruit Chapter Coordinators and Trainers in these geographies.
• We intend to increase citizen usage of the Online Corruption Reporting Tool beyond its current nature of usage to report bribery in public services delivery, to also serve whistle-blowing interests involving large-scale corruption.
Launch Chapters in 3 of 6 targeted geographies; increase awareness & usage of the CRT to get citizens to be active participants
Recruit 3 Chapter Coordinators (Delhi, Maharashtra & Karnataka) & train them on anti-corruption programs, tools and processes
Identify a strong social media partner to help with campaigns
Launch a social media campaign
Build a network of 'nodal agents' to receive SMS corruption alerts from online-access-challenged & feed it into online CR Tool
Recruit remaining 3 Chapter Coordinators (Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan) and train them on 5th Pillar anti- corruption programs
Recruit/train volunteers from our network to serve as ‘nodal agents’ to citizen-watchdogs on the wrong side of digital divide
Make system adjustments to CRT to enable linking SMS alerts to ‘nodal agents’ assigned to specific departmental corruption cases
More than 10,000
More than 10,000
Non-profit
• Sustained funding. Unlike other social change activity where outcomes can be measured, anti-corruption work is one where the results are not easily measurable. Impact multiplication and expansion plans will remain a challenge in absence of sustained institutional support
• A majority of the older age-group who have been victims of corruption have lost faith in the system. These citizens dampen the spirits of youth during group discussions. Our strategy has been to drive our structured programs to school/college students & young professionals who we have seen to be very aspirational, motivated and passionate to drive positive systemic change
5th Pillar continues its communication with the older group (through newsletters, online groups) highlighting success stories as hope for change
Technology has democratized the creation, distribution and consumption of information. In countries like India where 70% of its population lives in its rural heartlands, the digital divide is glaring. However, with an agenda to connect 250,000 panchayats via fibre optics and broadband by 2012, much of India’s underserved communities will become a part of the information society. ICT injects greater transparency in public service delivery. Those that don't adapt to serving their constituencies with transparency and integrity will face natural extinction.
Having seen demonstrated success with the ZRN (including continued interest internationally), and early signs of meaningful adoption of the Online Corruption Reporting Tool, we are confident that these tools have potential to be game changers if proliferated and adopted on large scale. Platforms like WikiLeaks are a testament to demonstrated potential
Funding continues to be a challenge despite proof of impact and success we have seen on the ground as a direct result of our anti-corruption work. Many of our well-wishers who have who have helped sustain our efforts, have expressed a desire to maintain anonymity, symptomatic of fear of the forces within the system that could potentially implicate them for supporting the anti-corruption cause. While fund-raising still remains a fire-fighting activity, impact multiplication and expansion plans will remain a challenge without sustained institutional support.
•Partnered with Transparency International to host the first anti-corruption Summit
•Partnered with Forum for Electoral Integrity/Election Commission of India to tackle electoral corruption, monitor code of conduct & ensure integrity in the process during the TN State Assembly Elections, April 2011. The ruling party was washed out of the elections by a clean sweep reflective of the people’s will against corruption expressed through their votes
•Continued partnership with UNCAC to facilitate implementation of the anti-corruption conventions in India
In each state where we intend to operate, we need 3 team leads to manage 1) the anti-corruption programs & initiatives 2) program management with colleges and schools and 3) Vigilance coordination efforts and a network of dedicated volunteers committed to the anti-corruption cause, to execute programs in the field
We need a dedicated resource to monitor and track online corruption complaints and see it through remedial action
Investment, Human resources or talent, Marketing or media, Pro-bono help (legal, financial, etc.).
Collaboration or networking, Innovation or ideas.
5th Pillar is very interested in collaborating with individuals/ organizations that have an interest/expertise/resources that can be mutually leveraged for anti-corruption work in India. 5th Pillar is also keen to inject the anti-corruption agenda within the context of other NGOs/participating organizations of the Ashoka network, to cultivate an operating ethic and code of conduct that espouses zero-tolerance to corruption in the context of their individual missions being pursued.
5th Pillar represents THE PEOPLE who seek freedom from corruption by transforming people power into 'social capital'.