'Graft cases down 31% in 2017'

In a major shot in the arms of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government, the cases of households experiencing corruption while availing public services have gone down to 31 per cent in 2017 in comparison to 53 per cent in 2005. However, police department continues to be the most corrupt followed by land & housing department, legal services and public distribution scheme (PDS).

The outcome of the CMS-India Corruption Study 2017, which was released on Thursday by NITI Ayog member Bibek Debroy, has reported that 56 per cent households are of the view that corruption has decreased in public services during the period of demonetisation (November –December 2016).

"The amount paid in bribe for availing 10 basic public services by the households of 20 states is estimated to be Rs 6,350 crore as against Rs 20,500 crore in 2005," the report said, adding that Congress-ruled Karnataka stands at first in terms of households experiencing corruption as 77 per cent households experienced corruption in the state followed by Andhra Pradesh, where BJP is an ally.

"The corruption in Tamil Nadu was experienced by 68 per cent of households, while BJP-ruled Maharashtra's 57 per cent households were forced to pay a bribe to avail public services, while in Jammu & Kashmir 44 per cent people have experienced corruption. In Gujarat, the home state of PM Modi, 37 per cent households experienced corruption, while 42 per cent people in Punjab got public services through corrupt means," the report said which was released by NITI Ayog member Bibek Debroy on Thursday.

According to the report, the states where the percentage of households experiencing corruption in public services is less than 10 per cent include Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh (3 per cent) and Kerala (4 per cent). The denial of public services due to non-payment of the bribe was most reported in land records/housing (3.5 per cent) and police (1.8 per cent).

Explaining the findings of the report, CMS's director general PN Vasanti said, "The awareness campaigns initiated by the state governments have played a key role in the downfall of corruption cases. The better implementation of RTI Act has also added to it. As people are being empowered with technological advancements, its hopeful that corruption would come down drastically in coming years."