Frequently Asked Questions :

 Q1:  How was Parivartan formed?

Ans:  A small group of people, who were quite agitated with the levels of corruption  in society, started meeting to find ways to tackle corruption. They regularly met for almost a year in 1999 and did brain storming to find methods to combat corruption. Ultimately, it was decided to do an experiment with a government department by picking up a small issue in that Department. The experiment was started with the issue of refunds in Income Tax Department.

Q2:  Why was Income Tax Department chosen for the experiment?

Ans:  Some of the founding members were Chartered Accountants and were technically equipped to handle it. Also, since it was an experiment, Parivartan did not wish to take up an issue which concerned masses. Income Tax affects a small section of population. And the issue of refunds would be affecting even a smaller segment. In the beginning, Parivartan did not have experience, resources (both financial and human) and credibility to handle a very big project.

Q3:  What are the reasons for corruption and how can it be tackled?

Ans:  According to Parivartan, corruption is of two types – Mutual Corruption and Extortionist Corruption. Mutual Corruption is the one where giver and taker are both happy about it because both of them benefit out of it. None of the two curse it or condemn it. They do not even talk about it. For instance, kickbacks in grant of contracts is a case of Mutual Corruption. Parivartan feels that Mutual Corruption can be tackled by four methods

·        Religion – By changing the hearts of the people

·        By methods like Vigilance, CBI etc

·        Through transparency in administration including granting Right to 
   Information

·        Bringing appropriate changes in the system

Parivartan, in its present stage, does not find itself equipped to handle Mutual  Corruption.

            Extortionist Corruption is the one where bribe is demanded to do something which is the right of a person. For instance, getting an income tax refund, getting correct electricity bills, getting telephone repaired on time etc. Here, it is the right of a person to get these but it is not done without bribes. Parivartan feels that almost all the cases of extortionist type of corruption are due to systemic deficiencies. If we make appropriate changes in the systems, this type of corruption can be minimized. This is more dangerous than Mutual Corruption because it affects each and every citizen of this country almost at every moment of his existence, hence, turning almost every individual of this country corrupt. This is corrupting the national psyche, the results of which we are already witnessing in the form of social recognition given to corruption. Parivartan will try to tackle this type of corruption. It will collect public grievances in any government department for sometime, study them, find reasons for corruption in that area, make suggestions to plug possible loopholes in the system and then strive to have these measures implemented. It will also get the grievances collected by it resolved without payment of bribes.

 Q4.      How does Parivartan meet its expenses?

Ans      There are two types of expenses. Fixed expenses to run the office and project related expenses. Fixed expenses are minimal (about Rs 5000 per month) which are met through monthly contributions from some of the volunteers. The project related expenses are met through voluntary donations.

 Q5.      What is the legal status of Parivartan?

Ans      It is a registered society.

 Q6.      Who are the Executive Committee members?

Ans            Parivartan does not do this type of distinction. In Parivartan, everyone is a volunteer. There is absolutely no hierarchy. A person is respected in Parivartan according to the strength of his ideals and the amount of time he devotes for its activities. However, legal and administrative formalities are done by Col J N Pandey  as President, Mr Kailash Goduka as Secretary and Mr Rajkumar as Treasurer.

 Q7.      How does one become a member of Parivartan?

Ans      In Parivartan, everyone is a volunteer. There is no membership. We feel that a member only has rights whereas a volunteer only has duties. Anyone who is fired with the ideal of doing something for the society and has time to spare for Parivartan activities can join Parivartan as a volunteer. There is no fees.

 Q8.      What have been the activities and achievements of Parivartan so far?

Ans      Income Tax refunds was the first project. DVB is the second project. Both the projects are going on presently. Parivartan is making an appeal to the public not to pay bribes in these two departments to get their legitimate rights. If they face any problem due to non-payment of bribes, they should contact Parivartan. Parivartan tries to get their work done without payment of bribes. Parivartan does not charge any fees for its services. 

Parivartan studied the grievances received with respect to Income Tax Department, analysed the same and suggested measures to the Department, which if implemented, will prevent recurrence of such grievances in future. Now, Parivartan has filed a PIL in Delhi High Court to get these suggestions implemented.

Parivartan also filed a PIL to get responsibilities fixed against the officials of MCD, DDA, DVB and other government authorities, who granted licenses to polluting industries in Delhi in violation of all existing laws in this regard. Now, these industries, which were operating in non-conforming areas, are being sealed for being relocated outside Delhi under the orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court. These industries were operating in non-conforming areas in violation of Delhi Development Act. Hence, they should be relocated. But, they were working on the basis of license issued by MCD, and various other permissions granted by other government authorities like Delhi Vidyut Board, Delhi Jal Board etc. Since, working in a non-conforming area is a crime, the basic question is, why were the licenses and permissions granted in the first place and why were these industries allowed to come up at all? This was all done by taking bribes. So, if these industries are being relocated, it is very important that all the officials who granted these illegal licenses and permissions should also be booked. Parivartan filed a PIL in Supreme Court in the first week of February seeking fixing of responsibility and initiation of suitable action against all such officials.

Delhi Vidyut Board is planning to raise the electricity tariffs in Delhi with effect from 1.4.2001, despite the fact that there is 50% theft of electricity in Delhi and DVB has no plans to address this issue. Before doing so, it is required to seek approval of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). DERC has sought objections from the public on the same. Parivartan has submitted detailed objections to the same.

Parivartan started a monthly publication by the name of "India Demands". Through this newspaper, wider issues related to corruption, rights of people in various government departments, etc would be taken up. The annual subscription for the same is Rs 25 only (including postage). Alternately, it is also available at www.indiademands.com.

Also see "Success So Far" and "News and Events".

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