Corruption hindering good governance: PM

Addressing the second annual conference of chief secretaries of states in New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that serious concern had been expressed in many responsible circles about the "lack of ethical conduct and probity in our public life".

The Prime Minister said though major anti-poverty programmes have achieved considerable success, the "quality of delivery of service has not been always as good as it could be, as it should be".

Expressing concern over the "menace" of corruption in the wake of a series of scams, the prime minister said it demeans and dents India's image. 

"Corruption strikes at the roots of good governance. It is an impediment to faster growth. It dilutes, if not negates, our efforts at social inclusion. It dents our international image and it demeans us before our own people," told the state chief secretaries. 

The prime minister said the "challenge" of corruption needed to "be faced frontally, boldly and quickly". 

He said the government has set up a group of ministers to look "into all measures, legal or administrative, to tackle this menace". He also mentioned two bills introduced in Parliament relating to judicial accountability and the protection of whistleblowers.