Chennai: Namakkal District Magistrate U Sagayam has done what few civil servants would dare: declare his assets publicly. Others of his stature are ready to emulate him. Sagayam has announced on the district administration website that he has a modest bank balance of Rs7,172 and a house in Madurai valued at Rs900,000.

“This is nothing great as every civil servant has to submit his asset details to the government. I have just made it public,” Sagayam said over telephone from Namakkal.

“The public perception of civil servants is very bad now. This is not good for civil society in the long run. I feel corruption is the major stumbling block for the country’s progress. I want to be myself,” Sagayam, 45, said. Other Tamil Nadu officials say they don’t mind declaring their assets too, provided there is a structured format.

“If the government or the Central Vigilance Commission or IAS Officers Association advises us the manner and the place where the asset details are to be declared, it will be helpful,” Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta said.

Such declarations will act as a deterrent for officials who may go wayward.

“Already we are declaring our assets to the public - to the government. Making it open to the public is not an issue,” a senior IAS officer added.