Vigilance and Corruption - And The Role of CVC

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 29^th October to 3^rd 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.
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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 81^st 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.