Accountability goes online with KaroKuch
The system aims to provide a platform for people who want to report against corruption issues easily and anonymously from their cell phones.
KaroKuch, which is only live in Lahore at the moment, calculates the total number of bribes and the amount taken from different areas of the city and displays it online.
Using KaroKuch
In order to report a bribe they had been forced to pay, users can send a text message to 0336-4239229 in the following format:
Location (your text) amount (insert text) message (insert department).
Example: “loc model town amt 500 msg Paid bribe to the tax department.”
What happens next
The KaroKuch team compiles all the data received from texts on reported bribes and displays it on the website for the public to see and analyze.
The project might be expanded to other cities in the future if it gets a positive response. The data could later be used to hold the institutions responsible for corruption.
Reliability of the data
The anonymity of reports put forth the question of authenticity as any individual or institution, if held accountable, might defend the charges by saying that they are bogus. Hence, the website is still in a test mode.
Future of KaroKuch
The project is intended to benefit the community, but does not have any sponsors to support it monetarily.
A version of this post originally appeared on ProPakistani.
COMMENTS (7)
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This is an excellent initiative.
But we have had an anonymous reporting system in place for a long time. I beleive it is part of the FBR's web-site and, if I recall correctly, if the "tip-off" proves to be true, then the person is entitled to a share of the money recovered (like in other countries).
My only reservation is to be mindful of suprious complaints. What a great way to get back at your pesky relatives!
What if my mobile ends up being in the bribe...for my life?!
But seriously, great work and effort by the students and should be supported, encouraged, reposted elsewhere and passed along to friends and family, saved on every cell phone. Would love to see it implemented in Karachi soon.
In India two NRI brothers who moved back from the UK to India suffered a bad culture shock as far as bribery went. So they designed a website which has been relatively successful and got international news media recognition, and a large following who've reported the bribes.
It even helped in changing at least one department, because there was one good bureaucrat who used it as an effective tool to shame his department employees. They are credited as making a difference in the culture and giving critical mass for the protests against bribery in India.
http://ipaidabribe.com/
You should mention the name of the Head of the department also which party HE/SHE belongs to.
Bravo ! All the best :)>-
I thought it was for West Leederville too.
A very good initiate. They might send this to the concerned dept. and also publish it all social web sites..
Commendable and unique effort