Corruption rampant in public services: Survey

On the eve of Women's Day, a survey on females has revealed that corruption has risen to alarming levels in public services like water, electricity, public distribution system, health services, housing, municipal, police and judiciary.
The CMS-India Corruption Study 2013 found that 56 per cent women or any member of their household had experienced corruption at least once during the last 12 months. In the 2008 survey, the percentage of women who reported experiencing corruption in public services was around 44 per cent.
The survey was carried out between April and September 2013 among states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan.

Among those who were asked for a bribe, 66 per cent women shared that either she or any member of the family experienced the demand for a bribe at least once during the last 1 year, while another 24 per cent came across such situation twice.
Moreover, eight out of every 10 households, who were asked to pay bribe had no other option and paid bribe to avail the desired public service.
Women respondents shared that in five out of eight public services, between 20 and 25 per cent of their families had to pay bribe or use influence to avail the services.

In all the states, except Bihar and Delhi, nearly two-third or more of the women reported experiencing corruption either by them or any of their family members while interacting with the public services.

In Delhi and Rajasthan, compared to 2008, the percentage of women having experienced corruption in public services was almost twice.
Around 5 per cent women informed that their families were denied services because they could not pay a bribe.
Highest service denial rate was in Karnataka (8 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (7 per cent) despite the Right to Public Services Act in place.