'Indians recognise corruption as endemic'

The groundswell of public support for the anti-corruption movement in India shows the people recognise that the problem is "endemic" in their society, with almost half of them saying the issue of graft is worsening, according to a new poll.

The poll conducted by US-based performance management consultancy firm, Gallup, said in 2010, 47% of Indians said the level of corruption in the country was higher than it was five years earlier, while 27% found it was about the same.

The support for Anna Hazare and anti-graft protests shows Indians recognise the problem is endemic, the survey said. In response to poll, 78% of Indians said corruption is widespread within the Indian government, and 71% said it is widespread within businesses in India.

According to the poll, following recent high-profile scandals -- including a collusion scheme that landed India's telecom minister in jail, and allegations that the planners of last year's Commonwealth games stole billions -- Indians have begun to act on their frustration with the country's corruption problem.

Survey results,  based on face-to-face interviews with 6,000 adults, aged 15 and older, found that Indians do not believe the problem is getting any better and many have had to deal with corruption personally.

However, the likelihood that systemic change can be implemented largely depends on whether Indians' underlying dissatisfaction produces sustained public pressure for reform, it said.