Corruption prevailed throughout the ages so also the strategies to contain. However, late last century marked the beginning of a new era in which actors have started to discuss the impact of corruption, thanks to efforts by some global...
moreCorruption prevailed throughout the ages so also the strategies to contain. However, late last century marked the beginning of a new era in which actors have started to discuss the impact of
corruption, thanks to efforts by some global institutions, such as the World Bank, Transparency International, the Open Society Institute and the UNDP. Attempts to highlight the problems
associated with corruption and bribing have not only brought the issue on the global agenda, but have witnessed some path-breaking solutions. Of late, thanks to the efforts of the UN
organizations, the ill effects of corruption are discussed in the light of human development, and the freedom and choices offered to individuals and their capacity to enjoy these. No doubt
corruption cripples everyone, but more so, the least served and the most marginalized in societies within the developing nations. The advent of Information and Communication Technologies do provide an opportunity to prevail over corrupt practices, but the main challenge is the willpower of the governments to take advantage of this unique opportunity, rather than missing it. The paper examines the intrinsic relationship between corruption and human development while presenting an overview of the role of ICTs, especially e-governance as means to improve human conditions and prevent corrupt practices. More than 100 such e-governance efforts enlisted in this paper highlight best practices at both small as well as large scales, sometimes also at a pan-national level. The paper suggests that the hype around ICTs,
especially about their role in containing corruption does need some serious thinking and a joint effort by the government departments that intend to introduce e-governance with a view to
reducing corruption. The author concludes with a simple but doable five point agenda for successful implementation of e-governance programs that can provide a good foundation for a
long-term public-private partnership program that places the common people at the helms of anticorruption efforts.
