FPJ – OPED – M-PAC: Mumbai – Pact Against Corruption

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M-PAC: Mumbai – Pact Against Corruption

“Corruption can be eradicated only if civil society wills it so,” states Shri J. D.Virkar IPS, Director-General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Maharashtra.

“The disastrous effects of corruption on our public life are clearly evident to all of us. We all wish to live in a corruption-free society. While there are adequate laws to punish the corrupt and agencies to investigate and prosecute the culprits, what is lacking is the will to come forward and fight corruption at all levels. Corruption is one of the main factors standing in the way of a higher standard of life for the common man. The problem therefore is who will bell the cat?” he asks on the website of the Anti-Corruption BureaU

What is usually unknown to the public is that the Anti-Corruption Bureau can not take any suo moto action. They can only take action when requested to do so via a complaint. And they just don’t receive enough complaints!

The Anti-Corruption Bureau, Maharashtra, has 8 separate units headquartered in Greater Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nanded and Amaravati respectively.

The Greater Mumbai Unit is located at: Anti Corruption Bureau, Maharashtra, Madhu Industrial Estate,  1st Floor, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai 400 013.  Tel: 24921212, 24922618, Fax: 2492776. Email: acbwebmail@gmail.com

On Monday, 6^th September, 2006, ACB even launched a Toll-free phone line 1-800-222021 so that anyone can call up from anywhere in India to lodge a complaint.

Ways for citizens to tackle corruption

1. You can complain via forms on the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s website, or via email, fax, phone, and letter.
   
   
2. You can remain anonymous if you so desire.
   
   
3. You can give details of actual instances where you are being asked to pay a bribe or you have had to pay a bribe. You have to simply state what was the work that was to be done by the public servant and how much he/she asked you to pay.
   
   
4. You can and should name the actual public servant involved.
   
   
5. You can complain about possession of disproportionate level of movable or immovable assets owned by or expenditure made by a public servant e.g. property, vehicles, financial partnerships, foreign travels, and other high expenditure. Even brief details are sufficient.
   
   
6. You can inform about general or specific problems that people face as they interact with any Government Department. The best way is to write to the Government Department itself and mark an official copy to the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Alternatively, you can write to the ACB directly. All these letters can be anonymous if you so desire.
   
   
7. “Corruption also arises due to unnecessary procedural formalities. Officials and citizens should come together and identify such practices which are no longer relevant and find out ways to remove them.” says Shri S. M. Krishna, Governor of Maharashtra
   
   
8. Shri J. Virkar invites associations of every sector e.g. Agriculture, Trade, Commerce, Industry etc, to create an Anti-corruption cell with collaboration or guidance of some ACB or other authority and join the ACB’s M-PAC “Mumbai – Pact Against Corruption” program.
   
   
9. ACB would be happy to support schools and colleges in spreading awareness regarding the ill-effects of corruption, the need to develop a social conscience, and conducting debates or field-projects, offers Smt. P. Saravade, Additional Commissioner of Police, ACB.
   
   
10. “Corruption is too serious a matter to be left to the Anti-Corruption Bureau” feels Shri H. Karkare, Inspector General of Police, ACB, and invites community participation in the fight against corruption. ACB would be happy to send its officers to Rotary Clubs and the like to give talks and get feedback.
    
    
11. “The ACB will effectively enforce Anti Corruption Laws with integrity & impartiality” assures Shri A. Parasnis, Additional Director-General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Maharashtra
    
    
12. The NGO Council will also try to act as a channel for citizens to access / approach ACB so if you face any hurdles while doing any of the above, do contact the NGO Council via info@karmayog.org

So it is indeed simple to greatly reduce the level of corruption that you encounter in your dealings with government. You just didn’t know how. Now you do. The Anti-Corruption Bureau will take the necessary steps. Don’t be cynical. Dash of your letter today itself!

Quotes:

 ‘‘In a state long corrupt, liberty cannot survive’’ Edmund Burke, Political Philosopher.

“The disastrous effects of corruption on our public life are clearly evident to all of us.” J.D.Virkar IPS, Director-General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Maharashtra

“Remaining silent about corruption also amounts to corruption” S. M. Krishna, Governor of Maharashtra

 “On this earth, there is enough for everyone’s need but not for their greed”. Mahatma Gandhi

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Send your views and news to info@karmayog.org . Karmayog, Shreeniwas House, 2nd floor, H. Somani Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400001. Tel: 22000478 / 22013535. Fax: 22035410.

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