To curb the menace of corruption amongst public servants and carry out the mandate of the State Government to provide a corruption free, transparent and fair administration, the State Vigilance Bureau would adopt planned strategy during the current year that includes joint inspections with Chief Vigilance Officers of other departments and an effective outreach measure for inclusive participation of citizens and all stakeholders in the state.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. Suresh Arora, Chief Director-cum-DGP Vigilance Bureau Punjab said that Bureau has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere in the State. "In combatting corruption amongst public life, the bureau would raise public awareness by various means amongst all stakeholders on adverse effects of corruption as awareness implies empowerment," he added.
Adding further Mr Arora said that the Vigilance Bureau would actively seek and encourage cooperation of public spirited citizens to report instances of corruption and their identity would be kept secret. "Every citizen is a partner in anti-corruption effort and their cooperation in reporting instances of demand of bribe and other corrupt practices is vital to stamp out the evil of corruption", he said.
He informed that the bureau would carry out joint inspections with the active participation of all stakeholders in the governance process about transparent delivery of public services and ensuring quality work at all on-going development projects in the state. Mr Arora said that a proposal had been sent to the government to issue directions to the concerned authorities for speedy disposal of corruption cases and to initiate the process of attaching the ill-gotten wealth and properties of the corrupt officials under the Punjab Special Court Bill-2012 who have amassed wealth more that their known sources of income.
He further informed that it has been noticed that earlier whistle-blowers were hesitant to lodge complaints to the bureau against corrupt officials as they feared that the trap money would become case property in the court and be released only after the final verdict. "Keeping this factor in view, the vigilance bureau has proposed to the state government to ensure early release of bribery amount offered during the trap from the designated court to the complaint on the CBI pattern. Adding further he said that this step would encourage the general public to come forward to complain against the dishonest officials demanding bribery.
The vigilance chief further elaborated that bureau has refined its procedures for investigations of cases by taking expertise services of charted accountants, forensic experts, banking officials, taxation experts etc. Besides this, bureau has send a request to the state government to create a new post of Joint Director (financial investigations) in the bureau to depute a retired IRS/IA&AS cadre officer to crack financial wrongdoings in corruption cases.
He informed that to facilitate the citizen in reporting instances of demand of bribe or other corrupt practices, a toll free number-1800-1800-1000 has been established at bureau headquarters. Besides, public could also lodge an online complaint at State Vigilance Bureau website vigilancebureaupunjab.org or at mail id [email protected].
Adding further he said that every citizen has a right to access the vigilance officers, right up to Chief Director, State Vigilance Bureau as the contact numbers of vigilance officers and their email IDs were made available on the website and have also been displayed at prominent public places in all the districts.