Introduction: Vigilance Awareness -why does India need the
most?
The central vigilance
commission (CVC) observes the vigilance awareness week every year during the
week on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birthday.
During a week, through its
various outreach activities, it seeks to motivate stakeholder to collectively
participate in the fight against corruption and also aims at raising public
awareness regarding the harmful and damaging consequences of corruption. It has been observed from 29th October to 3rd November for the year 2018.
Theme – “Eradicate
corruption-build a New India”
Let’s first understand what CVC or
central vigilance commission picture credits laughing colour
CVC is an apex integrated
body of union government to address governmental corruption and keep eyes on any
corruption’s activity. It was set up in 1964 on the recommendations of K.Santhanam committee on
prevention of corruption. It has status of statutory autonomous body and ir is free from the control of any executive authority as per the provisions of central vigilance
commission (CVC) Act 2003.
Functions: it monitors all vigilance activity under
union government and advises various authorities in union government
organizations in planning, executive, reviewing and reforming their vigilance
work. Union government has authorized CVC as “Designated Agency” to receive
written complaints for discloser on any allegation of corruption or misuse of powers
and recommend appropriate action.
Composition:
CVC is headed by Central vigilance commissioner
and has two vigilance commissioners. They are appointed by president on
recommendation of select committee comprising of prime minister as chairperson,
union minister of home affairs and leader of second largest party in Lok Sabha
or majority group leader in parliament.
Read About Electoral Bond prevent corruption
Read About Electoral Bond prevent corruption
Corruption in India
Corruption in India is a topic that seems never to be out of
fashion. Corruption is widely perceived to be an endemic phenomenon in the India
subcontinent. Yet, by any measure, the corruption in the public discourse in India
has radically increased in recent years according to the Transparency International Corruption Index. In 2016 India was ranked at 79th place while in 2017 India reached at 81st place.
This is, in part a reflection of a
series of a high profile scams one after one. The causes of corruption in India
include excessive regulations, complicated taxes and licensing systems, several
government department each with poor bureaucracy and wrong use of power. Corruption
is an issue that adversely affects India’s economy and central, state and local
government agencies.
According to Transparency International’s 2017 Corruption
perception index ranks India was 81st place out of 189 countries.
The largest contributors to corruption are entitlement
programs and social spending schemes enacted by the Indian government. Example –
MGNREGA and national rural health mission. People who have authority they do not release the fund without taking bribe, while poor people are not aware of their rights and proper information about their claim. Certain times in villages there have been cases where people worked under MGNREGA but no money was given to them even after fund was released by the government.
What CVC has done to control the corruption?
In 2017 the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has decided
to develop Integrity Index of 25 Government Organization in line with its
broader strategy and emphasis on preventive vigilance. The index was for
bench-marking internal process and controls within organization as well as management
of relationships and expectation of outside stakeholders.
The objective of integrity index was
to define what constitute integrity of public organizations, identify different
factors of integrity and their inter-linkage, create objective and reliable
tool that can measures performance of organizations along these above factors, validate
findings over period of time to improve upon robustness of tool that measures
integrity. It also intended to create internal and external ecosystem that promotes working with
integrity where public organizations lead way.
What are the activities of CVC at vigilance
awareness week -2018?
The CVC has asked various central government ministries and organizations
to conduct relevant activities in the central vigilance awareness week.
1-
Taking integrity pledge by all employees.
2-
Distribution of pamphlets/handouts on preventive
vigilance activities, whistle blower mechanism and other anti-corruption
measures.
3-
Conducting workshops and sensitization
programmes for employees and other stakeholders on policies/procedures of the
organization and preventive vigilance measures.
4-
Publication of journals/newsletters on vigilance
issues, systemic improvements and good practices adopted for wider
dissemination and awareness, conducting various competitions such as debates,
quiz etc. for the employees and their families on issues relating to corruption and the use of organizational websites for dissemination of
employees/customer oriented information.
5-
Other than that highlights of the week will be
establishment of integrity clubs in the schools and colleges to cultivate
ethical values in the leaders of tomorrow.
6-
Seminars, discussions and other outreach events
are also organized involving the private sector trade unions and associations
for wide participation of all section of civil society.
Over all the main objective of such
activities with high visibility and public appeal as walkathons, human chains,
street plays and other public function in various cities and towns across the
country.