The Costs of Political Corruption

The Narayan Dutt Memorial Lecture

In the era of electoral bonds, the costs of political corruption demand scrutiny. Today’s corruption differs vastly from that of a decade or two ago, altering its associated consequences.

The captive coal block allocation scandal entrenched oligarchy by favoring select families, while in states like Punjab, corruption consolidates power within a single family, depriving the state of revenue. Presently, India witnesses a surge in a rent-sharing model, akin to a mafia state, where government support disproportionately benefits chosen firms. This breakdown in the citizen-party social contract prompts reporter M Rajshekhar to analyze its origins and effects.

About Narayan Dutt:

Mr Narayan Dutt was a Hindi journalist. He retired as the Features Editor of PTI Hindi division. He was earlier Editor of Navaneet, a Hindi digest, for many years. He was highly regarded by his peers and received honours such as the Sri Ganesh Shanker Vidhyarthi Puraskar bestowed by the President of India, and an Honorary D. Lit by Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita evam Sanchar Vishwavidyalay, Bhopal. His date of birth is 17 February 1929. The last few speakers have included the journalist Mr P Sainath, the film-maker Mr Girish Kasaravalli, the sociologist Prof Amita Baviskar of Asoka University and Prof Krishna Achuta Rao of the Department of Climate Change,IIT Delhi.

This event is in collaboration with Devagitam Charitable Trust (R), Mysuru & Abhijnana, Bengaluru.