CONCLUSION

8. CONCLUSION

There is a much better grasp today of the extent to which corruption is a
symptom of fundamental institutional weaknesses. Instead of tackling such a
symptom with narrow intervention designed to “eliminate” it, increasingly it is
understood that the approach ought to address a broad set of fundamental
institutional determinants. However, the challenge of integrating this
understanding with participatory process has barely begun. The implementation
of institutional reforms can benefit significantly from the participatory process that
is being developed for anti-corruption activities. Equally important, any
participatory process, however sophisticated, ought to lead to concrete results
beyond enhanced participation and heightened awareness.

Thus, identifying key institutional reforms in India, and mobilizing support
for such reforms, needs to be fully integrated into the participatory process from
very early on. Such early convergence is likely to promote a better balance
between prevention and enforcement measures in addressing corruption. Until
recently, the pendulum was firmly in the “enforcement” corner. The gradual swing
towards middle ground has taken place due to recognition of the limitations of ex
post legalistic enforcement measures, since rule of law institutions themselves
are currently part of the corruption problem in India.


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