Presenting the overview of new initiatives his government has taken to improve governance and bring transparency in the functioning of administration, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday said that by setting up of Vigilance Commission, Re-constituting Accountability Commission and empowering people through Right to Information Act and Public Service Guarantee Act has created substantial means to reduce the chances of corruption and punish the culprits.
Addressing the meeting of Consultative Committee on General Administration Department, IMPA, Estates and Public Service Commission under his charge here, the Chief Minister said that further steps are on to ensure that government functionaries indulging in corruption are readily booked and handed over severe punishment under the law.
“We would not allow them to move scot free”, he said and underlined the need for full utilization of powers entrusted by his government to the people to scan government functioning and help in identifying unscrupulous elements in the administration. He said during this year his government has put in place yet another initiative of Results Framework Document (RFD) which would help the common people to ascertain the performance and functioning of government departments.
The Consultative Committee was informed that 193 cases received from SVO, Crime Branch and CBI, have been sanctioned for prosecution by the government and there is no backlog in this regard. It was stated that three cases relating to IFS and IAS officers have been referred to Government of India for sanctioning prosecution.The Chief Minister said that government would consider yet another initiative of placing high ranking officers in corruption prone areas as dedicated vigilance officers to keep eye on transactions and functions of these departments and report status to Vigilance Commission regularly. He said he has also directed for formulating water-tight cases against proven corrupt officials besides initiating prosecution process on firm footing so that they do not get any chance of getting benefit of looseness of the case or from any technical impediment in it.
The Chief Minister said that Vigilance Commission has been given office in the Old Assembly Complex Srinagar also and cases pertaining to bureaucrats and government officials have been transferred to it from the Accountability Commission which will concentrate on the cases pertaining to politicians.On creating enhanced opportunities for government employment to the youth, the Chief Minister said that while direction have been given to fast track the recruitment process, the government would actively consider Videography of viva-voice of the candidates to remove chances of all doubts and strengthen the process of selection making.
The Chief Minister also added that IMPA would be asked to increase its outreach to younger generation for preparing them for National level examinations like IAS without sacrificing the quality of imparting befitting training.On the accommodation issue, the Chief Minister said that his government has already approved construction of various complexes for accommodating government officials, politicians etc in Srinagar and Jammu adding that a complex for government employees is coming up near Pampore in which 400 flats are being constructed. He said land has also been identified at Sidhra for constructing residential accommodation for government employees and politicians.
Legislators, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Vijay Bakaya and Devender Singh Rana while making various suggestions pertaining to the functioning of these departments also deliberated upon issues pertaining to the filling up of vacancies in Public Service Commission, placing of IAS and KAS officers suitably, fast tracking employment and promotions and filling up of vacancies regularly. They also discussed strengthening of initiatives relating to employment generation, Public Service Guarantee Act and expanding the orbit of activities of Public Service Commission.
They also talked about creation of additional opportunities for youth to prepare themselves for IAS and other National level examinations. While underlining the importance of Public Services Guarantee Act the members also highlighted its strict monitoring and greater public awareness.Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Secretary GAD, Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, Director Vigilance Organization, Sheikh Owias, Law Secretary, Farhat Tasneem, Director Estates, M. H. Malik and various other senior officers were present in the meeting.