Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal, while inaugurating the State Level Workshop of Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) of various departments here today impressed upon the need to check malpractices and irregularities in official business in their respective organizations and to bring about transparency in a bid to ensure citizen-centric services for the people of Punjab. He emphasized that the institution needs to be streamlined to cope with emerging challenges. These CVOs must equip themselves with a working knowledge of the CVC Manual, Vigilance Manual, CBI Manual and provisions of RTI and Right to Service Acts to ensure efficient and effective performance of their duties.
Stressing the need for punctuality and promptness by officers and officials in the Government Departments, Mr. Kaushal said that this is a prime requisite for creating a healthy environment and paving the way for speedy disposal of official work. He said that the CVOs must invariably check the attendance of the employees of all ranks and submit reports about the absentees if any, to the Head of the Department and also to Vigilance Wing for taking further corrective measures.
Expressing his concern over the pendency of disciplinary proceedings against erring employees in some Government Organizations, the Chief Secretary said that the process in such matters should be speeded up so that the defaulters can be punished and innocents can be honourably exonerated without loss of time. He emphasized that every department must set up an ‘evaluation unit’ in their organizations to ascertain the backlog of such cases and CVOs must extend professional assistance in expediting the issues.
Kaushal further said that Punjab Government and Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration is making vigorous efforts for upgrading the professional skills and knowledge of officials of all ranks of various departments of the State Government through professional training, capacity building and re-orientation programmes. He said that besides regular monthly training programme of IAS, IFS, PCS and PSS officers, capacity building workshops were organized for NGOs, RTI stakeholders and Media Professionals. Disaster Management workshops were also started by MGIPA. Apart from this the interaction of the experts, economists and senior officers of the State Governments is organized on various policy matters for wider exercise of thought in important policy matters.
Mr. Vivek Pratap Singh, Secretary Vigilance, , while highlighting the role of CVOs said that they constitute a vital link between the department and vigilance bureau and they must perform their duties diligently as provided in the manuals. He said that besides institutionalizing surveillance and preventive practices, the CVOs must ensure expeditious action on investigation reports in their organizations.In the technical session, Mr. Amardeep Singh Rai, IPS, IGP Vigilance Bureau, Punjab spoke on CVC Manual and presented a context and background of corruption, transparency and ethics before the audience. Mr. B. Chandra Sekhar, IGP (EOW), Vigilance Bureau; Punjab highlighted the features of Vigilance Manual and Mr. G. Nageshwara Rao, IPS, IGP (Crime), Punjab spoke on the CBI Manual. Mr. Nilabh Kishore, DIG (Investigation & Cyber Crime), Punjab gave a presentation on Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
As part of the session dedicated to Governance Reforms, Mr. Digvijay Singh, Project Manager, TCS gave a presentation of IT related issues for speedy disposal of Vigilance cases. Mr. Rakesh Verma, Secretary Governance Reforms, Punjab, presided over the special session. Lively interactive sessions were a hallmark of this workshop.The concluding session of the Workshop was addressed by Mrs. V. Neeraja, Director (VB) & IGP and Raji P. Shrivastava, Secretary (Personnel), Punjab and Director, MGSIPA.