An interesting brain child of 5th Pillar is the zero rupee note printed by the organisation, conceived and designed by Dr Mohan Bhagat, a volunteer who lives in Maryland, United States.
Since 2001, volunteers in the US have been distributing the currency note to Indians there as well as volunteers working at the grassroots level in India to sensitise volunteers and supporters about the need to fight corruption.
"An auto rickshaw driver used it (the zero rupee note) when he was stopped by a policeman in Chennai," says Anand.
"He had all his papers in place, but was asked by the policeman to 'take care of him.' The auto driver told the policeman that he was a member of 5th Pillar and that he has pledged not to bribe, after which the policeman let him go," he adds.
In another incident, says Anand, a resident of Velacheri in Chennai used the zero rupee note with a BSNL employee who demanded bribe to install a phone connection. The employee was baffled to see the zero rupee note and immediately provided the connection, fearing a complaint.
Anand himself used the currency at Mumbai airport when harassed by Customs personnel.
"I only had electronic goods that were my personal effects under the Customs Act," he says. "I was held with no reason and my exit was delayed. I had to hand out the zero rupee note for the employee to realize this is serious business. I was then let go."
5th Pillar has so far printed 25,000 zero rupee notes and on the day of its re-launch 10,000 notes were distributed to those who attended the function.
Now, they give a note to all those who come to the office, and if they want more, they plan to collect Rs 1 for each note. The organisation is using the zero rupee note as a means to raise funds.
Image: The zero rupee note, which proclaims: 'I promise to neither accept nor give bribe'
Also see: The daughters of Bihar
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