In an era of scams, the people must act

Pick up any newspaper or magazine; search any news site or watch a news channel and it seems like its doomsday for India.
Scams, scams and more scams are the content of news these days - from politics to bureaucracy and education to sports, there’s not a single field left untainted by scamsters.
One Telgi was enough to shatter the confidence of a common man in the ‘uniform’; Abhijit Kale has replaced the halo of cricket with a cloud of uncertainty and now the CAT exam paper leak has washed away the efforts of hundreds of hopeful MBAs.
Indians are used to corruption, but the shocking proportions of it are evident for the first time, courtesy a pro-active media. Is it a positive sign that the culprits are being punished? Or is it just the tip of the iceberg, with massive dark secrets still hidden at the bottom, never to be uncovered? PT spoke to Puneites to find out what they feel.
Dr Nitin Kareer, Inspector General of Registration and Stamp: I am indeed delighted that all these scamsters are being arrested.
Scams are not new in India, but we should welcome the fact that they are coming out in the open so fast. It is an indication of the desired transparency in the system. I appreciate the role of the media in it, but I wish the media would also take some steps to strengthen the confidence of people in the system by publishing positive stories about the bureaucracy as well.
Arun Bhatia, former PMC commissioner and activist: This is nothing but the disastrous degeneration of the Indian society. Scams are symptoms of the cancer that has spread at record speed, thanks to our system that facilitates corruption. Even if the scams are detected, the fact that they could stay under covers for decades together, with convicts finally escaping the tedious law procedures, is depressing.
The secretive procedures of bureaucracy and the chronic fear and apathy of citizens is mainly responsible for the situation.
Sandeep Khardekar, BJP spokesperson: Contrary to the popular belief, politics is not the single sphere where scams happen. It’s the question of the overall morality of society, which is hitting the lowest point now.
But the way the scams are being exposed shows that the clean-up process has started and the media has sent the message across that it’s impossible to hide a scam.
Mohan Joshi, City Congress president:You must take into account how all scams have this strong ‘North India’ element. Maharashtra still maintains a high moral ground. I say let’s not limit it to a political issue, let’s come together and fight this giant.
Vandana Chavan, former mayor: I think people know that bribery, nepotism and venality are there at every level and I think in the last few years, the frustration levels of vigilant citizens are going up.Now at least some justice is being done and we see some action. This will boost the confidence and prompt many to take action. Dr Kumar Saptarshi, political activist and thinker:
Scamsters have forever been there in society.What I regret is the cynical middle class that never reacts to such social maladies. In a dynamic society, citizens never shut up if they are cheated. In India, it took 20 years for people to understand the Bofors scam completely.
The new bloated, pretentious and lethargic ‘middle class’ in India have shut their mind to such external disturbances and think only of one’s home and family. Such a society will forever be punished with scams, till it wakes up and does something.
sharvari.joshi@timesgroup.com