ACB plans drive to make citizens aware of evils of corruption

MUMBAI: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) of the state police will observe a vigilance awareness drive from Tuesday to Saturday in a bid to sensitise city residents about the evils of corruption.

"During the awareness week, banners and posters displaying messages to fight corruption will be displayed at various government offices," state director-general of police (ACE) R.H. Mendonca said. "Residents will be encouraged to approach the ACB office at Worli and lodge complaints against corrupt officials. They can call up ACB officials or seek assistance on the dedicated telephone number ‘4921212’.

Mr Mendonca observed that corruption was rampant in every walk of life. "This year, our department trapped 318 state government officials from various agencies like police, BMC and revenue department. We want more complaints to belodged at our Worli office (situated in Madhu industrial estate on Pandurang Budhkar Marg)."

Several corrupt officials manage to go Scot free because the public is afraid to lodge complaints against them. However, the ACB claims that the arrest of additional police commissioner A.K. Jain this year had made the public more confident on the working of the department. "We received several complaints against corrupt policemen and trapped nearly 19 of them in the first ten months," Mr Mcndonca said.

"During the awareness drive, our department will also organise seminars and interact with NGOs, citizens groups, merchants’ associations, transporters’ associations and traders. We want the associations to form vigilance cells on their own. Thc cells will monitor corruption in the respective fields and help association members lodge complaints with the ACB," he stated.

"In several cases, the common man is not aware of the law," Mr Mendonca noted. "For example, if a transporter has to pay a fine of Rs 500 at a checkpost, he ends up paying a bribe of Rs 10,000 to the officials.

The reason the officials threaten to arrest him, get his licence cancelled and drag him to court. The transporter, who is unaware of the law, is usually taken for a ride. We want to make people aware of the provisions of the law through the various associations and citizens’ groups."

It is learnt that the awareness week is being observed by policemen in other states and centrally coordinated by the chief vigilance commissioner.

"Our efforts to create public awareness will not be restricted to a week. We will continue encouraging residents to resist corruption," Mr Mendonca said. The role of the ACB is to lay traps, inquire into complaints of disproportionate incomes and handle cases where senior officials have misused their authority.

"We want people to give us more information on government officials having disproportionate income," Mr Mendonca said. "The complaint can be sent in writing to me and the necessary proofs attached for verification. My officers will take cognisance of the case after verifying the authenticity of the evidence."

Courtsey : The Times Of India
Date : 30th October, 2000