Corrupt people are very creative: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures while addressing at the valedictory function of Vigilance Awareness Week, 2016 in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the government saved a whopping Rs 36,000 crore through the use of direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme, while stressing that technology must be used for governance to deter corrupt practices as corruption has become creative nowadays.

“Corruption is not something we can have in our system and people who do corruption are very creative. It is therefore necessary for us to remain alert all the time,” the Prime Minister said.

Speaking at the Valedictory Function of Vigilance Awareness Week-2016, Mr Modi said, “People who do corruption are very creative ... politicians are considered as the most corrupt people in the world.”.

“Politicians are considered as the most corrupt people in the world; this mindset deters common man from believing in us. The state has to be policy driven. Things can’t depend on the whims and fancies of individuals,” he said.

Asserting that a poor country like India cannot afford luxury of corruption, Mr Modi said the state should be policy-driven and not based on whims of an individual.

“A poor country like us cannot afford luxury of corruption. If only few takes all the money (that to illegally) then how will common men will be benefited ” he asked.

The Prime Minister was speaking during the valedictory function of vigilance awareness week (October 31 to November 5) organised by Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

“When we make rules and if there is any ambiguity in it which is open to people’s inference then it opens door for corruption. That is why State should be policy-driven. It should not run on individuals’ whim. If state is policy- driven, then there are restrictions for ifs and buts. And if there are no ifs and buts then there is no scope for discrimination,” he said.

Mr Modi said that if the government emphasises on policy-driven state then there will be less scope for interpretation by an individual.

“Law, rules and system will speak for itself. One will get what he deserves. That is why our efforts are to make all the things policy-driven and in black and white because of which nobody will get to do anything ‘idhar udhar ka’ (malpractices),” he said.

In an advice to government departments, Mr Modi said people must be involved while making draft laws for any governance-related matters.

He said there has been degradation of values in the country. Mr Modi said the common man is honest and is willing to pay any price to ensure improvement in the system.