Poll Analysis | Bribe for Electricity
India’s biggest challenge has been battling power shortage in most cities. Most metropolitan cities face this inconvenience on a daily basis. The effect of shortage seems to encumber the day-to-day life of the common man. It’s not just the shortage of power supply but also the difficulty to get an electricity meter fixed also irks many a people.
As per our poll, many confessed to having paid a bribe (69%) and few others (31%) not having paid a penny to get electricity fixed.
In a recent bribe complaint from Lingarajpuram posted on our site, the respondent was asked to pay a bribe of Rs 12,000 in order to fix the meter for commercial purposes. The respondent negotiated the bribe amount to Rs 6,800 only to realise he had been duped by contractors and officials.
Few other complaints on our site are concerned with issues of reconnection of electricity, name transfer and restoration of power supply that rely solely upon bribes by authorities who demand anywhere between Rs 2,000- Rs 7,000.
A respondent form Lucknow mentioned how he was forced to pay Rs 5,000 by the electrical board in his area without which he wouldn't be allowed to access electricity for his house.
In Bangalore, BESCOM officials as part of their annual electrical inspection seek report from electrical engineers about consumption patterns of residents. This is done to keep a check on illegal consumption and improve customer service. One of the reporters from Bangalore opined that the agents who fix electricity meters work hand in glove with BESCOM officials. It then seems almost ironic that BESCOM officials look out for bribes when it's time to hand out clearances and permits to buildings.
In an interesting report, a Jaipur based honest reporter's intention to fix his meter led him to pay corrupt officials. "The meter that was not working had to be replaced. I would have been more than happy to continue this way but then my conscience did not allow me to use a service that I did not pay for", he writes. Going by his conscience also proved expensive as the official demanded a bribe of Rs 100 to get it fixed!
~ Manisha Yadav