印度网站“我行贿了”日趋火爆

Imagine if you had to pay a bribe¹ to see your newborn baby, get your water supply connected or obtain your driving licence. It's an everyday fact of life in India - but campaigners are now fighting back, using people power and the internet.

想想吧，如果看看你新生的宝宝需要行贿，通自来水、考取驾照也需要塞钱的话，你会是什么心情？在印度，这就是严酷的现实。但反腐败人士正利用大众的力量和网络对此发起反击。

bribery², what a bribe was for, where it took place and how much was involved." src="http://www.enread.comhttp://www.enread.com/upimg/allimg/110611/1_110611031831_1.jpg" width="500" height="245" />
File photo of the website. It invites people to share their experiences of bribery, what a bribe was for, where it took place and how much was involved.
"Uncover the market price of corruption³," proclaims（宣告，公布） the banner on the homepage of ipaidabribe.com.

It invites people to share their experiences of bribery, what a bribe was for, where it took place and how much was involved.

Launched in August, the site gives Indians a chance to vent⁴（发泄感情） their frustrations⁵ anonymously⁶ and shine a spotlight⁷ on the impact of corruption on everyday life.

"I did the driving test correctly but still the official said I was driving too slow, I realised his intention so gave him 200 Rupees and got the thing done," is a typical example of a posting.

The website was the brainwave（脑电波，灵感） of Ramesh and Swati Ramanathan, founders⁸ of a not-for-profit organisation⁹ in Bangalore called Janaagraha which literally¹⁰ means "people power".

"Bribery is routinely expected in interactions with government officials", Swati Ramanathan told me, "to register your house, to get your driving licence, domestic water connection, even a death certificate."

Having lived in the US and the UK for several years, they were dismayed（灰心，害怕） on their return to see how widespread corruption had become and decided¹¹ to do something about it.

The website has evolved into a consumer comparison site where people can also get information and advice in different languages on how to avoid paying bribes¹².

So far, nearly 10,000 bribe experiences have been reported across 347 cities and 19 government departments.

Solving the problem of bribery in India is not going to happen overnight. But ipaidabribe.com shows that ordinary people can be turned from the victims of corruption into part of the solution.