Indian PM calls on bureaucracy to confront corruption

New Delhi (CNN) -- India's prime minister Thursday made an impassioned appeal to his country's powerful bureaucracy to put its foot down harder against corruption as a spate of scandals weakened his administration.

Less than two weeks after a hunger strike by a 72-year-old activist galvanized citizen support in India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned public patience was wearing thin at the government's handling of graft.

"There is a growing feeling in the people that our laws, systems and procedures are not effective in dealing with corruption. We must recognize that there is little public tolerance now for the prevailing state of affairs. People expect swift and exemplary action, and rightly so," he told civil servants in an address.

Singh pledged greater transparency in administration and in privatization of state-run utilities, and called upon civil servants to stand up boldly against any political pressure aiming at unfair practices.

"I urge all civil servants to contribute to our efforts in fighting corruption. Each one of you is in a position to do so in many meaningful ways and I hope to see renewed energy emanating from you in this fight. I expect you to be honest and fearless in advising your superior authorities, especially the political leadership. Those of you who serve in senior positions would do well to also encourage your subordinate officers in this direction," he remarked.

Now in his second term, Singh -- who is seen as the architect of India's economic boom -- and his ruling coalition have suffered a reputation crisis over a series of high-profile alleged scams involving ministers, government officials and corporate executives.

Earlier this month, reformist Anna Hazare sat on an hunger strike for five days till the government agreed to a long-pending anti-corruption bill to create a citizen ombudsman to deal with the scourge.

In his Thursday's address, Singh advised bureaucrats to tackle graft within their own ranks.

"I believe it is only up to the civil services as a whole to set the highest standards of probity and integrity in public and personal life and to create an atmosphere and a work ethic which encourages honesty and integrity.

Disapproval and even ostracization by peers and colleagues can be a powerful deterrent for those who tend to stray from the path of rectitude," he said.