'55 p.c. Indians have bribed; influenced graft'

In India, corruption at political, bureaucratic, corporate and individual levels is a major concern. It is found that more than 55 per cent of Indians have first-hand experience of paying bribes or influence peddling to get jobs done in public offices.

The recent scams involving incredibly big amount of money, such as 2G spectrum scam, are well known.

Immediately after the independence, our economy was under socialist-inspired policies from 1950s to late-1980s. The economy was characterized by extensive regulation, protectionism and public ownership, policies vulnerable to pervasive corruption and slow growth.

As a result, corruption was prevalent and found in each and every section of society. The recent evidence was profound in last year's anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare which shook the government; the demand for implementation of Jan Lokpal bill is unique in its kind in Indian history.

Of course, prior to this, the Centre initiated the process by formulating Right to Information Act and implementing it cross sectors.

Due to sheer inadequacy of  proper mechanisms in place, most programmes of the government are being ill-utilized. The nexus of politics with hooliganism and bureaucracy with ineffectiveness has crippled the system.

Through corruption is a universal phenomenon, its repercussions in India are very huge because of large population, secular and diversifying policies of government.

Over the last few years, our economic policies have undergone a transformation and the steady rise of the Indian middle class will bring about changes in this volatile situation.

(Prakash Pradhan is the head, IT, at Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals Ltd)