In a bid to strengthen anti corruption measures and ensure accountability and transparency in the state administration, the Punjab government has decided to streamline the functioning of the state Vigilance department efficaciously. A decision to this effect has been taken by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in a meeting with the senior officers of the vigilance department here at Chief Minister’s Residence late last evening. Badal reiterated that the state government was committed to eradicate corruption from the public life in an effective manner and asked the vigilance department to coordinate anti-corruption measures in tandem with the vigilance bureau to ensure transparent, responsive, accountable and good governance.The Chief Minister was apprised in the meeting that in order to bring better coordination and enhanced effectiveness for dealing with corrupt practices existing in various agencies/departments, the state vigilance department has mooted a proposal to establish a special internal vigilance unit in bureau with a view to monitoring the activities of their officials. To ensure timely investigation and conviction of corrupt officials, it was deliberated upon in the meeting that the competent authority of each department under the state government would decide refusal or sanction of granting permission for prosecution as the case may be by passing a speaking order with a maximum period of three months. In case of non-compliance, Secretary Vigilance would convey displeasure on the recommendation of Chief Director Vigilance Bureau. The vigilance department had been asked to initiate the necessary amendments in the law to empower the Punjab Vigilance Bureau to cover the state government employees posted in Chandigarh also on the same pattern as has been done in case of CBI. The Chief Minister also gave nod for training tie-up to be established with CBI Academy at Ghaziabad to provide latest training inputs to officials of the Bureau and asked the Chief Director Vigilance Bureau to ensure effective professional handling of investigation leading to conviction of corrupt officials. He also gave approval for the creation of vigilance bureau Web-site to ensure better professional information sharing and providing on-line facility for registration of complaints. Vigilance department had also been asked to update the existing vigilance manual within three months. The Chief Minister also acceded to the request of vigilance department to provide requisite funds for the construction of ‘Chowksi Bhawan’ in Mohali as the land had already been provided by the state government. Vigilance bureau would soon launch an anti corruption awareness program with the help of multi-agency initatives through published literature, media etc. besides undertaking public education programs for creating awareness relating to anti-corruption amongst the concerned segments of the society. The meeting was also attended by the Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh and Chief Director Vigilance Bureau Suresh Arora.