Did WIMWI Solution end Corruption in SimpleStan?

WIMWI Well Known Institute of Management in Western India

In the fictitious word of SimpleStan corruption is defined as jumping a red light. Red light jumping is endemic and the people are agitating for a solution. SAC (SimpleStan Against Corruption) has gained a wide following and wants a strong bill that includes all public servants, has independent investigating and prosecuting powers. For those convicted it wants harsh punishments so that there is a deterrent. After fighting tooth and nail vested interests give in and a strong bill is passed exactly like SAC wanted. A Lokpal is set up. There is much jubilation in the streets and people talk of Ram Rajya, Akbar raj, Shivaji Raj, Solomon Raj or Ranjit Singh Raj coming back . Fast forward six months nothing much has changed. What happened? Initially red light jumping reduced but then people noticed that the people jumping red lights were not getting caught and even if they did building a case against them was really hard. The suspect claimed that they were being victimised and the judiciary worried about convicting innocent people demanded strong proof before they used the strong deterrents. Rampant red light jumping started again and the Lokpal and special courts threw up their hands. After much soul searching the case was referred to WIMWI (a premier management school) to suggest solutions. The decision to approach WIMWI was not easy. There was much scepticism that WIMWI could provide an answer. It was only after great persuasion that the decision makers concluded that there was a slight chance that something good may emerge and that WIMWI solutions could be easily rejected. WIMWI were appointed to look at the problem on a pro bono basis. WIMWI accepted the challenge and started by looking at best practices in other countries to learn and not reinvent the wheel. Project leaders knew that if they mentioned other countries in their report the chances of the report getting rejected would increase as many decision makers felt that SimpleStan was large, diverse and unique and were highly skeptical of other country solutions. WIMWI concluded that to solve the problem they had to solve just two inter related problems 1. Cut the number of violations 2. Deliver quick and fair justice There was some jubilation in the project team that they had decomposed the problem to just two things that needed to be solved till someone pointed out that earlier there was just one problem and now there were two and how were these problems going to be solved.

One of the team members pointed out that in ending health epidemics prevention was a big part of the solution so maybe to end this epidemic we should focus on preventing corruption. The team agreed but knew that a lot of work still remained to convince people to give the solution a trial. They decided to come up with a plan that consisted of the following 1. Video cameras to give solid proof at red lights 2. Sentencing guidelines which allowed suspects to plea bargain and plead guilty for a reduced punishment 3. Requirement that each institutional unit come up with a red light jumping control plan within 90 days that is considered adequate by citizens and the Lokpal . 4. Setting up of a prevention wing in Lokpal to help institutions with their prevention plans 5. Communication to all that under the new system chances of getting caught and punished are very high so do not take that risk.

Did WIMWI Solution end Corruption in SimpleStan?