Graft on the rise, politicians, police most corrupt: Survey

NEW DELHI: Seventy-four per cent Indians feel that the level of corruption in the country has gone up in the last three years and perceive politicians and police to be the most corrupt, according to a survey.

The survey, released by Transparency International, found that 64 per cent Indians bribed police for one reason or the other while 55 per cent felt that the Government was ineffective in the fight against corruption.

Majority of Indians opined that politicians and police are the most corrupt in the country who have to be bribed to speed up work, avoid problems with authorities or to access basic services, the anti-graft watchdog said in a release.

More than 48 per cent of those surveyed perceived political parties to be the most corrupt institution, 34.2 per cent said parliament and legislature were corrupt bodies while 40.4 per cent perceived police to be corrupt.

The findings are based on survey of 7,500 people conducted between 2010 and 2011 in India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka seeking views on nine pubic services, including police, judiciary, tax revenues, utilities and education.

While releasing India specific results of the survey, the anti-graft body however did not provide number of people surveyed in India

63 per cent of those surveyed said they paid bribes to land service officials while 62 per cent said they paid bribe for registry and permit services.

About India, it said "on an average, people in the highest income quintile were more likely to pay bribes than the lowest income quintile."

Since the people think corruption is on the rise and are agitating to take action against it as is evident from their on-going protests for the enactment of a strong Lokpal, it said.