CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX-INDIA

Transparency International India
Registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, Delhi
the coalition against corruption
BALWANTRAI MEHTA VIDYA BHAWAN -ASMA, GREATER KAILASH, PART II,
NEW DELHI-110 048, INDIA
Tel. : +91-11-29224519, 26460826 Telefax : 26460825,
Email : tiindia.newdelhi@gmail.com Website: www.transparencyindia.org

PRESS RELEASE

Corruption Perception Index – 2008

India – Marginally more corrupt in CPI-2008

New Delhi, Sept. 23:

India with an integrity score of 3.4 (versus 3.5 in 2007 and a ranking of all 85th instead of 72 out of 180 countries) is perceived to be marginally more corrupt than in the earlier two years when its integrity score was 3.3 and 3.5 respectively. India and China were on par till last year. This year China has remained at 72 with a marginally higher integrity score of 3.6.

With the exception of Bhutan, which has a score of 5.2,. India with 3.4 is still at the top of all CPI in South Asia.

One wonders whether bundles of currency notes being displayed in Parliament during the Confidence Vote Debate in July could have influenced such an assessment.

Transparency International India, has been pressing for the passage of the Lok Pal Bill, the Corrupt Public Servants (Forfeiture of Property) Bill and other progressive measures like the ratification of the UNCAC. Our political establishment has shown no will to address these measures which would influence India’s standing in the world community and show that it is serious about combating corruption.

Nearly half of the countries have scored three or even lower points; a clear indication that corruption is perceived to be rampant. Haiti, Iraq, Myanmar and Somalia have recorded the lowest score of less than 1.5.

The declining performance of some wealthy exporting countries in tackling corruption shows their failure to honor their commitment to put an end to the questionable methods of their companies in acquiring and managing domestic and overseas businesses. These methods include the role of money in politics.

Transparency International has found that a strong correlation between corruption and poverty continues to exist, jeopardizing the global fight against poverty and threatening to derail the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Some of TI India’s Initiatives:

Transparency International India (TII) has been actively engaged in the campaign against corruption, together with other civil society organizations like Lok Sewak Sangh, MKSS, Parivartan, Public Affairs Centre, Campaign for Judicial Accountability & Reforms, Citizens’ Forum Against Corruption, Association for Democratic Reforms, Lok Satta etc.



Integrity Pact (IP) : one of the possible reasons why India improved its integrity score in 2006 and 2007 is the success of the IP procedures aimed at bringing about greater transparency and integrity between buyer and seller, eliminating external interventions, improving a sense of ethics, and reducing the number of representations/complaints from bidders and contractors. TII has, therefore, been espousing the need for the adoption of the Integrity Pact (IP) in public contracting & procurements. Whereas 28 PSUs have so far agreed to implement it, regrettably the govt.-nominated directors on the boards of some of the PSUs have shown reluctance to do so. The power sector is the one area where not a single PSU has introduced the IP despite the advisories by the CVC.

It is heartening to note that the Ministry of Defence has adopted IP for all procurements of Rs. 100 crores and above and Rs. 20 crores for the Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) of the Ministry. So far, the defence sector’s track record has been marred by allegations of corrupt deals. If the planned procurement of defence equipment goes through the IP procedures, India’s CPI integrity score will receive a big boost.

Lok Pal : The bill to appoint a Lok Pal has been introduced in Parliament on eight occasions and allowed to lapse for reasons not difficult to understand.
This demonstrates total lack of political will. It is pertinent to mention that the Second Administrative Reforms Commission has also recommended the constitution of the Rashtriya Lokayukta.

Ratification of UNCAC: It is ironical that global financial centers, located in the wealthy countries with top scores on the CPI, allow corrupt officials to move, hide and invest their illegally gained wealth through offshore facilities and money laundering. However, TI India had been pursuing the matter with the concerned authorities. But there is no response. The issue would continue to be pursued as it is in the interest of the financial health of the country.

Admiral (Retd) R H Tahiliani
Chairman, Transparency International India
Website: www.transparencyindia.org