Vigilance Awareness Week:
Central Vigilance Commission observes this year’s Vigilance Awareness Week from 27th October to 1st November, 2014.
The Income-tax department also organised, on 28-10-2014, an interactive meeting of senior officials, with stakeholders to mitigate potential areas of corruption.
• Mr. Rajiv, Central Vigilance Commissioner in his message wrote:
In its endeavour to fight corruption, the Central Vigilance Commission mandates observance of Vigilance Awareness Week every year. While reaffirming our commitment to eradicate corruption, we need to enlist the support and participation of all stakeholders and seek their active co-operation in fighting the menace of corruption. The Commission hopes that such initiatives would be an effective anti-corruption measure.
The theme chosen for this year’s Vigilance Awareness Week is “Combating Corruption–Technology as an enabler”. A combination of e-governance, web-enabled technologies and transparent policy initiatives by Government Departments/Organisation can provide an efficient and effective service delivery system to the citizens. Innovative technologies of social media promote citizens’ participation and enable reporting instances of corruption.
The Commission believes that transparency and objectivity in governance hold the key to combating corruption. Effecting systemic changes with simplified procedures, minimum discretion and optimum use of technology is the way forward. The commission expects all organisations to undertake technological initiatives relevant to their fields to facilitate fairness and equity in governance.
• The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his message wrote:
It is needless to point out that the integrity of public servants and transparence in public offices is utmost necessary in making transparent and efficient administration free of corruption.
• The President Shri Pranab Mukherjee wrote:
Corruption is a complex problem that needs a multi– faceted action. One of them is the use of technology that can help promote openness and transparency. Use of modern technologies can play an important role in eliminating human interface in service delivery systems. It is the collective responsibility of citizens as well as government departments to adopt technology initiative in combating corruption to maximise benefits.
Corruption of MLAs etc.:
An NGO by the name PRAJA aims at enabling accountable governance. It’s October 2014 issue reports on perception of citizens about corruption of MLAs, BMC officials, police officials and improvement of quality of life.
While the Mumbaikars’ perception about corruption of MLAs has increased by 17% they believe that their quality of life has decreased by 13%.
Supreme Court–Govt. cannot punish civil servants who expose corruption:
The Supreme Court in September ruled that any civil servant who exposes corruption and other illicit acts by knocking on the doors of a court cannot be subjected to disciplinary proceedings.
A bench of Justices, J. Chelameswar and A. K. Sikri, said that if a bureaucrat files a petition, alleging that the government was lax in discharging its constitutional obligations of establishing the rule of law, his or her conduct does not imply that he or she failed to maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty, or indulged in conduct unbecoming of a member of the service.
“Clearly the rule only prohibits criticism of the policies of the government or making of any statement which is likely to embarrass the relations between the government of India and a foreign state or the government of India and the government of a state. Allegations of maladministration, in our opinion, do not fall within the ambit of any of the three categories (warranting disciplinary actions),” said the bench.
It added, “The right to judicial remedies for the redressal of either personal or public grievances is a constitutional right of the subjects of this country. Employees of the state cannot become members of a different and inferior class to whom such right is not available.”
The court issued the ruling while quashing disciplinary proceeding against IAS officer Vijay Shankar Pandey. The proceeding had been initiated against Pandey under charges of misconduct after he joined a campaign to bring back black money stashed abroad. He had actively participated as a member of a social group that filed a PIL and prompted the Supreme Court to pass a judgement on setting up a special investigation team to retrieve black money. He also gave his personal affidavit in the matter.
The bench said that the purpose behind these proceedings appeared “calculated to harass the appellant since he dared to point out certain aspects of maladministration in the Government of India.”
“The whole attempt appears to be to suppress any probe into the question of black money by whatever means, fair or foul. The present impugned proceedings are nothing but a part of the strategy to intimidate not only the appellant but also to send a signal to others who might dare in future to expose any maladministration,” it noted.
Gabriel Kuris (GK)
GK is a senior research specialist at Princeton University’s research centre, Innovations for Successful Societies.
Some months before he was in India, and in conversation with a journalist, he said:
“In democracies, if people want government action against corruption, they need to demand it through their voices and their votes. It’s easy for parties to make empty promises; voters need to hold them accountable.
The political class is resistant to the idea of a strong antigraft watchdog. The war against corruption is not just a war against politicians. Anti-Corruption-Agencies (ACAs) have many arrows in their quiver, and there are tactics that don’t single out and threaten individuals. Prosecution alone cannot reform a faulty system. ACAs in Botswana, Mauritius and Indonesia have made great strides by partnering with ministries and offices.
Real programmes against corruption requires preventive reforms and educational efforts that desire societal change.”
National Portal of India:
Fight corruption with the help of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). If anybody is involved in corrupt practices report it now. You can use the following options to raise your voice:
• Call to the CVC toll free helpline number: 1800-11-0180 (All India)/011-24651000 (9:30 AM – 6 PM – Monday – Friday)
• Send a blank SMS or “VIGEYE” to 09223174440 to get an SMS containing the registration link in your mobile. You have to register first, before filing a complaint.
• Register your mobile phone directly with the CVC.
• File an online complaint register with CVC.
• Attach audio/video/photo evidence with your online and mobile complaint.
Users can also check the Status of the complaint filed by them with the Commission.
So get ready, be vigilant and take an initiative to fight against corruption.
Why Corruption?
“Nobody is corrupt with their own family. Corruption is happening because there is no sense of belonging. We need to create that belonging through satsangs as Gandhi did. Lack of spirituality is leading to corruption.” —Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
