5th PILLAR

ENDcorruption@5thpillar.org Fax: +1 202 318 8948 www.5thpillar.org

National HQ -New Delhi, India VIJAY ANAND, President Operations Center- Chennai, India India Cell: +91 98406 18948 Overseas HQ - Washington DC US Cell: +1 703 725 9199

Corruption in India

o Transparency International – Ranks world countries based on the Corruption

Perception Index

INDIA RANKS 85th

o Bribe Payers Index

Ranks 30 Leading Exporting Countries

INDIA RANKS 30

What is 5th Pillar?

4 Pillars of our Democracy –o Legislatureo Executiveo Judiciaryo Press

5th Pillar – WE, The Citizens

“Enable, Encourage and Empower Every Citizen of India to Eliminate Corruption at all levels of Society”

The ZERO Rupee Note….

2001 - Idea conceived by Dr.Mohan Bagat, Physics Professor at University of Maryland, USA

Mar 2007 – 5th Pillar released and distributed the Zero Rupee Note widely in India

Distributed 1 million+ copies amongst citizens

Citizens use it in Govt offices where Bribes are demanded or work is purposely delayed

The front….The front….

and the back…and the back…

“FREEDOM from CORRUPTION”

– Campaign launched in Aug 2007

– 60 districts of India

– 600 plus colleges & schools and counting….

– 500, 000 students pledged- ‘I will not take or give bribe’

“Signing a contract with my Signing a contract with my nation…”nation…”

The flag of “Freedom from The flag of “Freedom from Corruption”Corruption”

Signing a contract with my Signing a contract with my nation…nation…

““Taking bribe = Taking bribe = Stealing or Begging”Stealing or Begging”

Together, we can…..Together, we can…..

““I will neither receive or pay I will neither receive or pay a bribe”a bribe”

ZeroCurrency.org

Zero Currency website (www.zerocurrency.org) to encourage and facilitate the idea in other

countries

Downloadable “Zero currency” images of respective countries based on the Zero rupee design

Right to Information(RTI) Training

RTI Act 2005 – Salient features Public Information Officer (PIO) Appellate Authority Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)

How to file RTI? Framing the right questions… Escalation procedures Media Pressure

Upcoming programs….

1. RTI Training/Service Centers in rural areas

2. ‘Freedom from Corruption’ campaigns in more colleges of more states

3. Zero Rupee Note MELA on 9th Dec 09 (International Anti-corruption Day)

Mass distribution(~100,000 in each district)

2010- Rural Service Centers to be launched

Address Grievances

Draft and File RTI petitions

Follow up and Escalation- Information commission

Citizen’s Handbook – Know Your Rights

Informed citizenry to tackle corruption

Procedure, Timeline, Fee Structure and Escalation Process

Volunteers working on gathering relevant but concise data to provide in ‘ready reckoner’ form.

Zero Rupee Note (ZRN)

Population of 1.1 billion plus

Average of 4-5 members/family

250 million copies of ZRN

Printed 1,000,000 so far