Chai: Greasing the palm

A deeply entrenched system of bribery and corruption has taken hold in government offices across Kashmir, crippling the ability of citizens to access basic services and complete routine tasks. The "chai" system, as it is known locally, allows those willing to pay bribes to have their paperwork and requests fast-tracked, while honest citizens are forced to wait months or even years.

A sprawling network of bribery and favoritism has taken root within government offices, leaving the common person to suffer immensely.

"Visiting a government office is like being cursed," laments Mohammad Amin, a local resident who has been trying for over a year to get documents processed by the revenue department. "Unless you have political connections or  you are willing to pay bribes, you are at the mercy of these corrupt bureaucrats."

The normalization of bribery has eroded faith in institutions and sowed anger, and has made life extraordinarily difficult for those from low-income and middle-class backgrounds who simply cannot afford the “Chai" demanded by government offices. Young people, in particular are suffering high levels of anxiety and hypertension as they struggle to navigate this unjust system with limited resources.

"These public servants have reduced the people to glorified slaves, kicking people from office to office and giving them dates on dates unless we pay their price". "Where is the accountability?"

Civil society groups and honest government officers need to come forward to break the cycle of graft that has become endemic to Kashmir's government machinery, and appeal the honest and civic-minded to take a stand against those exploiting their positions for personal gain at the expense of the people.

It is high time we reclaimed our public institutions from the clutches of the corrupt. The path to justice and development lies in regaining the integrity of those meant to serve, not rule over, the citizens.

Obaid Ullah Andrabi, Senior Accountant at Noon.com, UAE.