changeadminAccording to the latest India Corruption Survey conducted by the Transparency International India (a leading non-political, independent non-governmental anti-corruption organization of India) and the LocalCircles (a social media firm) – reveals a noticeable reduction in the number of times bribes are paid by the citizens either directly or indirectly
The survey was conducted between October 2018 and November 2019 and it received around 1.9 lakh responses from 81000 unique citizens in 20 Indian states (248 districts).
The percentage of respondents who admitted to paying a bribe was 51% this year, as compared to 56% in the previous survey. The respondents were asked ‘How many times did you pay a bribe (directly or indirectly) in the last 12 months Percentage paid off several times (directly or indirectly)
Kerala is the least corrupt state with only 10% of citizens admitted that they have paid the bribe to get the work done. While Rajasthan emerged as the most corrupt, where 78% of citizens who participated in the survey admitted to paying a bribe.
The survey has revealed some interesting figures for the most corrupt states. In most of states, people paid bribe several times in the last 12 months.
Though CCTV and computerization has acted as a deterrent, still cash remains the most prominent medium of the bribe – 35% of respondents said that they gave a bribe in cash, 30% paid through an agent, 6% in gifts or kind, 29% said they did not have a need to pay bribes.
Property registration & land issues remained the number 1 cause of people paying bribes with 26% people saying that paid bribe there. Others in the list are –
- Police – 19%
- Municipal corporation – 13%
- Transport office – 13%
- Tax Department – 8%
- Water Department – 5%
- Electricity board – 3%
Transparency International is the same organization that came out with Corruption Perception Index 2018, where India standing is 78 among 180 nations.
It is good to know that overall bribes have reduced as many states & central government authorities have made attempts to curb the menace but there is still a lot of ground to be covered. Political resolve, better laws, punishment along with e-governance, transparency, technology can play a huge role in establishing an anti-corruption ecosystem.
As they say, it takes two hands to clap, for a bribe to happen there needs to be a giver and taker. Though easier said than done if the citizens decide that whatever the circumstances they will not bribe anyone for an easy workaround instead register a complaint against the miscreant, it would do wonders for India’s fight against corruption.
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