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DELHI, Nov 10 (AFP) - Almost 50 percent of Indians using government
services end up paying bribes, according to a recent survey
commissioned by India's Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
But only 20 percent
actually filed complaints against such corrupt practices.
The study was
carried out by the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), which interviewed
2,576 visitors to government offices in five cities across the
country from October 31 to November 4.
More than 60
percent of respondents said the problem of corruption was not being
tackled seriously and that the judiciary was largely ineffective.
Most of the
respondents agreed the offices for securing driving licenses and
civil supplies were the most corrupt in all five cities -- New
Delhi, Lucknow, Madras, Hyderabad and Pune.
One-third of
respondents admitted to using "influence or favour" to get
the service they needed.
The survey noted
that members of the business community and the self-employed topped
the list of bribe givers.
According to the
survey, the government departments in Lucknow and Hyderabad were the
most corrupt.
About 42 percent of
people said the departments operated "middle men" who
acted as a paid conduit between the public and officials.
The public
departments covered by the survey included electricity and telephone
boards, civil supplies, driving license and local urban development
offices.
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