Army officers top in honesty, govt officers come last

Army officers are the least affected by rampant corruption plaguing the nation.

The men in green remain at the top of a devised scale of reverence while government officers finish last in estimation, according to a recent survey.

The survey, 'Public reverence -- 50 years after Independence, was conducted by MODE covering 1,000 adults in the metropolitan cities of Bangalore, Calcutta, Madras, Delhi and Bombay. People were asked to rate government officers, lawyers, doctors, businessmen, army officers and sportspersons against four parameters -- honesty, efficiency, contribution to the nation and bravery.

With marks given out of ten for each parameter and the mean rating expressed in percentage terms, army officers notched up the highest (81 per cent) in honesty. Government officers scored a meagre 34 per cent, finishing last. Sportspersons bagged the second slot with 70 per cent followed by doctors (62 per cent), businessmen (47) and lawyers (41).

Army officers maintain the top position with regard to the other three parameters as well.

As for bravery, army officers scored 87 per cent with sportspersons following them at 69 per cent. Doctors came third with 59 per cent, followed by businessmen (51 per cent) and lawyers (46 per cent). Government officers are rated lowest with only 39 per cent.

In the sphere of efficiency, army officers were awarded the top slot by 81 per cent of the respondents and sportspersons and doctors shared the second spot with 68 per cent. Businessmen were close behind with 60 per cent, lawyers got 53 per cent and government officers 42 per cent.

As for contribution to the nation, army officers scored 83 per cent. Sportspesons came next with 69 per cent, followed closely by doctors at 62 per cent. Businessmen bagged 47 per cent and lawyers 43 per cent. Government officers were again at the lowest rung of the ladder with 41 per cent.

However, according to the survey, government officers, businessman and lawyers were not in the same league in all cities.

Certain cities have rated army officers better than the others. Bombay has the lowest appreciation for government officers while businessmen are rated higher in the scale of reverence in Bangalore but lower in Delhi.

UNI