PHOTOGRAPHING CORRUPTION IN INDIA

Photo above: Witnessing public accountability: Rupesh (left), advisor to the Indian Supreme Court Commissioner on the right to food sits with his colleague Father Jose Kariakatt (centre) of the PUCL (People’s Union for Cilvil Liberties) to audit the midday meals program at the Madhya Vidayalaya school in Tetua village. The proper running of Bihar’s midday meals scheme is vital if the state is ever to tackle it’s terrible record on child malnutrition. Gaya District, Bihar. India ©Tom Pietrasik 2011

Earlier this week it was announced that that Suresh Kalmadi, the chief of Delhi’s 2010 Commonwealth Games committee had been arrested. It is alleged that his fixing of contracts for the procurement of timing equipment used during the games resulted in the government overpaying a Swiss firm by US$21million.

While revelations of Indian corruption are attracting much comment in the press, I have yet to see any photographs that contribute to our understanding the issue. Indeed, I read this latest disclosure in the Financial Times newspaper in an article by Amy Kazmin that appeared without a photograph to accompany her words.

Congress Manjhi's son Pramod (centre), 3, and other children receive their midday meals in Mananbigha village Anganwadi (child care) centre. ..Mananbigha resident and day-wage laborer, Congress Manjhi died of hunger in April 2010. He was a landless Maha Dalit (Bhuiyan caste). He had tuberculosis. Bedridden, he had been unable to work for four years. As a consequence, Congress' wife, Kari Devi, 35, became the sole breadwinner for their family of four children. When Kari Devi was bitten by a dog in 2010, she was not able to work for 15 days. She had to travel 40km for a rabies vaccination as the local hospital in Barachatti was out of stock. This incurred substantial expense at a time when no one in the family was bringing in an income. Kari Devi had to borrow money for treatment. The family had not been granted a BPL (Below Poverty Line) card even thought they were entitled to one. As a consequence they had no access to rations from the PDS (Public Distribution System). With no food, Congress Manjhi eventually succumbed to tuberculosis. Following his death, it took representation from the Oxfam-supported Nyadal, a local village court, to force the administration into granting Kari Devi the 25kg of grains to which she and her family are entitled as part of the Antyodaya scheme (providing staple food for the poorest of the poor). Kari Devi must now bring up her four children alone. She is a member of the local five-person vigilance committee that reports to the Nyadal...Like much of rural Bihar state - particularly among low caste communities - the residents of Mananbigha regularly go hungry. Some have died as a result of food shortages. There is a scarcity of water in the area and no irrigation facility. Though there are schemes in place to support vulnerable families, it is an ongoing struggle for residents to claim benefits, including rations, that are by rights theirs. Oxfam partners have helped to promote awareness of social security schemes among residents in Ma (Tom Pietrasik)Potential victims of corruption: children receive their midday meals in Mananbigha village Anganwadi (child-care) centre. The proper running of Bihar’s midday meals scheme is vital if the state is ever to tackle malnutrition levels running at 56 percent among the under-5’s. Gaya District, Bihar. India ©Tom Pietrasik 2011

The Indian investigative newspaper Tehelka has famously used hidden video cameras to expose corruption but these images are principally concerned with gathering evidence and do not employ the skills of a photographer to illustrate the subject. Of course bribing someone is an illicit act and is rarely witnessed. So when a politician colludes with industrialists to deny the Indian people revenue that is by-rights theirs, how does a photographer go about illustrating the crime?

Rupesh (left) discusses the running of the Atri Block State Food Corporation Godown (depot) in Atri with assistant manager Bharat Rai...In the course of his work, Rupesh (no surname), advisor to the Indian Supreme Court Commissioner on the right to food, made an unannounced visit to the Atri Block State Food Corporation Godown (depot) in Atri where he unearthed two cases of malpractice. He found that Bharat Rai, assistant manager of the godown, responsible, among other things, for the distribution of one quintel of grain per-month to each of the PDS (Public Distribution System) retailers in his area as part of the Antyodaya scheme (providing staple food for the poorest of the poor), had failed to deliver this essential food for eleven of the previous twelve months. Furthermore, it was discovered that though retailers supplied by the Atri Godown had paid Rai for grains for the months of November and December 2010, these foods had not in fact been delivered. Rupesh demanded paperwork from Bharat Rai and will now take up the case with the District Magistrate in Gaya. Rupesh argues that the only way to properly administer schemes like PDS is to make them universal so that the the educated middle class, and not just the poor, have a personal interest in the running of them...India's PDS (Public Distribution System) is a three-tier system that provides subsidized food at thee different rates for those people classified as APL (Above Poverty Line), BPL (Below Poverty Line) and Antyodaya (literally 'serving the last man in the queue'). The system is an essential provision that sustains the lives of many. However experts including the JSS (Jan Swasthya Sahyog or People's Health Support Group) argue that the PDS needs to be extended. This is because the monthly allocation of subsidized grain will last the average family just 12 days...Rupesh is supported by Oxfam as part of a five month pilot program that began in November 2010...Photo: Tom Pietrasik.Atri, Gaya District, Bih (Tom Pietrasik)Surrounded by sacks of rice and wheat, Rupesh (left), advisor to India’s Supreme Court Commissioner on the right to food, quizzes assistant manager Bharat Rai about his alleged syphoning of supplies from the Atri food depot. Gaya District, Bihar. India ©Tom Pietrasik 2011

It is clear that acts of fraud and bribery are incredibly difficult to photograph but I did recently have the privilege of witnessing first hand, the work of those whose responsibility it is to confront corruption by holding public officials to account.

It was in Gaya District in Bihar state, while I was gathering stories of hunger and malnutrition for Oxfam, that I found myself in the company of Rupesh who is an advisor to India’s Supreme Court Commissioner on the Right to Food.

Rupesh, who goes by one name only, is one of those people who’s dedication and commitment to his job goes well beyond the call of duty. Refreshingly unsentimental in his approach to the task of uncovering corruption and equipped with a dry sense of humor that undoubtedly provides respite from the depressing nature of his work, Rupesh is charged with a responsibility to uphold the Indian Constitution that guarantees life to all Indians. This right – it goes without saying – cannot be granted without access to food.

Rupesh was accompanying me as I photographed a food distribution depot in the town of Atri when he found himself surrounded by retailers responsible for supplying food to those who qualify for rations under India’s Public Distribution System (PDS).

Rupesh (left) discusses the running of the Atri Block State Food Corporation Godown (depot) in Atri with assistant manager Bharat Rai while local retailers look on...In the course of his work, Rupesh (no surname), advisor to the Indian Supreme Court Commissioner on the right to food, made an unannounced visit to the Atri Block State Food Corporation Godown (depot) in Atri where he unearthed two cases of malpractice. He found that Bharat Rai, assistant manager of the godown, responsible, among other things, for the distribution of one quintel of grain per-month to each of the PDS (Public Distribution System) retailers in his area as part of the Antyodaya scheme (providing staple food for the poorest of the poor), had failed to deliver this essential food for eleven of the previous twelve months. Furthermore, it was discovered that though retailers supplied by the Atri Godown had paid Rai for grains for the months of November and December 2010, these foods had not in fact been delivered. Rupesh demanded paperwork from Bharat Rai and will now take up the case with the District Magistrate in Gaya. Rupesh argues that the only way to properly administer schemes like PDS is to make them universal so that the the educated middle class, and not just the poor, have a personal interest in the running of them...India's PDS (Public Distribution System) is a three-tier system that provides subsidized food at thee different rates for those people classified as APL (Above Poverty Line), BPL (Below Poverty Line) and Antyodaya (literally 'serving the last man in the queue'). The system is an essential provision that sustains the lives of many. However experts including the JSS (Jan Swasthya Sahyog or People's Health Support Group) argue that the PDS needs to be extended. This is because the monthly allocation of subsidized grain will last the average family just 12 days...Rupesh is supported by Oxfam as part of a five month pilot program that began in November 2010...Photo: Tom Piet (Tom Pietrasik)Retailers surround Rupesh (left), advisor to India’s Supreme Court Commissioner on the right to food, as he looks through paperwork with Bharat Rai (in blue), assistant manager of Atri’s ration depot. Retailers accused Rai of syphoning off food supplies that should have gone to Atri’s poorest people. Gaya District, Bihar. India ©Tom Pietrasik 2011

These retailers, who were at the depot to collect monthly supplies of rice and wheat, were keen to inform Rupesh of malpractice on the part of Bharat Rai, assistant manager of the depot. According to them, Rai had failed to supply grains specifically allocated for Atri’s poorest of the poor as part of a scheme called Antyodaya. Rai, they said, had sold this grain and pocketed the money for himself.

While Rai’s offense should not be considered commensurate with Kalmadi’s crimes, the serious implications of his alleged misconduct cannot be underestimated in a state where where 56 percent of under-5’s are underweight.

Rupesh (no surname), advisor to the Indian Supreme Court Commissioner on the right to food...Rupesh regularly exposes examples of lax supervision of fundamental hunger-alleviating programs are in much of Bihar where administrations have little personal vested interest in the proper running of schemes that benefit only the poor. Rupesh argues that the only way to properly administer schemes like school midday meals is to make them universal so that the the educated middle class, and not just the poor, have a personal interest in them...Rupesh is supported by Oxfam as part of a five month pilot program that began in November 2010...Photo: Tom Pietrasik.Amas Block, Gaya District, Bihar. India.February 25th 2011 (Tom Pietrasik)Rupesh, advisor to the Indian Supreme Court Commissioner on the right to food. Gaya District, Bihar. India ©Tom Pietrasik 2011

Rupesh argues that Rai must be held accountable for his own actions and has raised the case with the District Magistrate. But he insists that corruption should be considered chiefly a consequence – rather than the cause – of a deeper malaise, namely poverty and inequality. Rupesh is adamant that until these structural deficiencies are confronted, India cannot hope to build proper systems of education, accountability and justice that are prerequisites for a society free of corruption.

Rice on a weighing scale ready for distribution as part of the PDS (Public Distribution System) at the Atri Block State Food Corporation Godown (depot) in Atri...In the course of his work, Rupesh (no surname, not in photo), advisor to the Indian Supreme Court Commissioner on the right to food, made an unannounced visit to the Atri Block State Food Corporation Godown (depot) in Atri where he unearthed two cases of malpractice. He found that Bharat Rai, assistant manager of the godown, responsible, among other things, for the distribution of one quintel of grain per-month to each of the PDS (Public Distribution System) retailers in his area as part of the Antyodaya scheme (providing staple food for the poorest of the poor), had failed to deliver this essential food for eleven of the previous twelve months. Furthermore, it was discovered that though retailers supplied by the Atri Godown had paid Rai for grains for the months of November and December 2010, these foods had not in fact been delivered. Rupesh demanded paperwork from Bharat Rai and will now take up the case with the District Magistrate in Gaya. Rupesh argues that the only way to properly administer schemes like PDS is to make them universal so that the the educated middle class, and not just the poor, have a personal interest in the running of them...India's PDS (Public Distribution System) is a three-tier system that provides subsidized food at thee different rates for those people classified as APL (Above Poverty Line), BPL (Below Poverty Line) and Antyodaya (literally 'serving the last man in the queue'). The system is an essential provision that sustains the lives of many. However experts including the JSS (Jan Swasthya Sahyog or People's Health Support Group) argue that the PDS needs to be extended. This is because the monthly allocation of subsidized grain will last the average family just 12 days...Rupesh is supported by Oxfam as part of a five month pilot program that began in November 2010...Photo: (Tom Pietrasik)Food grains intended to supplement the nutritional needs of Atri’s residents are weighed before being allocated as part of the Indian Public Distribution System (PDS). Gaya District, Bihar. India ©Tom Pietrasik 2011

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