66% businesses across 159 Districts in the country paid bribes in the last 12 months : Survey

New Delhi – In the last 12 months, 66% of the businesses surveyed from 159 Districts across the country have admitted to paying bribes to the concerned Government offices as per the report published by the ‘Local Circle’ website. The survey included 18,000 people, who revealed that 54% of them felt forced to pay bribes while 46% paid bribes without demand, to expedite their work. The survey was conducted between 22^ndMay and 30^thNovember 2024.

1. Many companies have admitted to paying bribes to different organisations for getting considered as eligible before giving quotations to get orders in the last twelve months.

2. The companies which participated in the survey informed that 75% bribes were given to the officers from the Government departments viz. food and drugs, health services, etc.

3. Dealing with Government institutions, permissions, orders, eligibility of suppliers, bills, etc are regularly withheld by the concerned departments. The companies have to pay bribes by going behind doors to avoid getting caught on CCTV.

4. Many companies, on the condition of anonymity, informed that giving bribes to Government departments for getting a licence or for speeding up the compliance process is a common thing. Giving bribes for getting permission from any authority or things related to property is also a common thing.

5. Only 16% of businessmen out of the total businessmen surveyed claimed that they have always carried their work without giving bribes and 19% said that they never had to do any such thing.

Editorial Perspective

Nothing works without giving a bribe in India is a known fact. It is also known that all political parties distribute cash and kind before elections for getting votes. Only Hindu Rashtra governed by a righteous ruler like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will bring a change in this situation.