They’re not even worth the paper they’re printed on, but Zero Rupee Notes could save Indians millions of dollars by shaming corrupt officials into foregoing their usual bribes.

The next time a traffic cop asks for ‘chai paani’, give him the bribe without any moral compunctions whatsoever. Fish out a zero rupee note from your wallet—it’s the newest campaign on the block against corruption.

Common citizens often believe that they are helpless when it comes to fighting corruption. Be it paying a ‘fine’ to the traffic police for no reason or an under-the-table donation to the college they wish to send their children to, bribes , unfortunately have become an inseparable part of everyday life. Even worse, most people have begun to accept it. Surprisingly, few people understand that the national attitude towards corruption can be changed with just a little effort.

He’s the real-life version of Sivaji, the software engineer-turned-corruption crusader essayed by Rajinikanth in the blockbuster of the same name. Forty-two-year-old Vijay Anand closed down his software solutions firm in Washington D.C. in 2004 and returned to Chennai to inspire Indians to resist corruption. What prompted the drastic step? “I was running a business in Coimbatore in the early 1990s. Every little thing I needed to get done was possible only by paying a bribe. When I went to the US in 1997, getting my driving licence was a cinch. I made up my mind to do something to stem the rot in the system,” he says.

The 5th Pillar successfully encourages and empowers citizens to take a stand against acts of corruption. One of their most successful campaigns -€“ the Zero Rupee Note -€“ gave concerned citizens a practical tool in confronting daily corruption attempts of public officials.

Parker Mah sat down with social reformer and innovator Vijay Anand at the 15th International Anti-Corruption Conference to talk about the Zero Rupee Note, one of the most successful initiatives developed by 5th Pillar, an Indian anti-corruption organization co-founded by Anand. Read More.