Corruption in Kashmir

People in Jammu and Kashmir are among the worst sufferers of corruption in accessing public services, a think-tank has revealed in its survey.

The Centre for Media Studies (CMS) in its annual corruption study – CMS India Corruption Study 2017- has placed Jammu and Kashmir along with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh as most corrupt among 20 surveyed states.

The study reveals that “Karnataka (77%) followed by Andhra Pradesh (74%), Tamil Nadu (68%), Maharashtra (57%), J&K (44%) and Punjab (42%) emerged as more corrupt states among 20 surveyed states as far as ‘experienced corruption in public services’ is concerned.”

The report states that JK was also among most corrupt states in 2005. “In 2005, the more corrupt states were Bihar (74%), J&K (69%), Odisha (60%), Rajasthan (59%) and Tamil Nadu (59%).”

Further the study says that more than 33 percent respondents stated that state government is not ‘committed at all’ towards reducing corruption in public services.

“Perceptions about corruption are much higher in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, J&K, Karnataka, and Odisha,” it states.

Key reasons for paying bribe in a public service are similar in most of the states. These reasons for corrupt practices could be broadly categorized as procedural; documentation related; payment evasion and dependency on service providers, the study points out.

“In most of the states, the more often paid bribe amount ranges between Rs 100-500. However as low as INR 10/- and as high as INR 50000/- were also paid by a household in a year for availing one or the other public services.”

Out of 20 states covered in CMS-ICS 2017, the three lesser corrupt states implied by households ‘experiencing corruption in public services’ are Himachal Pradesh (3%) followed by Kerala (4%) and Chhattisgarh (13%). In 2005, the three lesser corrupt states were Kerala (35%), Maharashtra (39%) and Gujarat (43%).

This eleventh round of annual CMS- India Corruption Study covers both rural and urban locations of 20 states. The data collection was conducted in October-November 2016 and an additional telephonic sub-sample survey to capture perception of households visited earlier on effect of demonetization on level of corruption in public services was conducted in January 2017.