Summary of M-PAC Meet
Dt. 20.07.2007
Participants Venue: Dr Pradnya Saravades Office, ACB, Worli
1. Dr Pradnya Saravade
2. Mr Vinay Somani
3. Mr Sailesh Mishra
4. Ms.Tanya Mahajan
5. Ms Ranjana Mangalagiri
The following was discussed and deliberated upon in the Meeting.
- Compilation of Feedback received for Suggestions for Systemic Changes in Govt. offices to reduce corruption:
All the suggestions received for systemic changes in Govt… to be compiled as per the format already planned (by Dr.Sarvade) and submitted to the appropriate Government department. At the moment, the plans for a seminar to release the compiled responses will not be undertaken. (These are at: https://www.karmayog.org/acbsuggestions/)
- Sales Tax Department:
The Mah. Sales Tax Department would be considered as a pilot of a Government Department where systemic changes would be undertaken to eliminate corruption. Once it is demonstrated that this can make a difference in reducing corruption, other government departments can be taken up in a similar manner.
As discussed, the points of contact with citizens and the points of corruption will be focused on, and then removed / minimized. A small group would be formed, and using the inputs of students (SP Jain + ……. college), further surveys, etc can be undertaken. One workshop has already been held at the Mah. Sales Tax for Attitudinal Change (report of the workshop…?) and 2 more are in the planning stage. Mr.Bhagat / Vivek from Mah. Sales Tax Dept. are coordinating with Karmayog.
Mr.Bhatia had mentioned that there is an existing study and document that has identified the points of corruption. This document is to be studied and then taken ahead, and appropriate systems such as ISO, etc can then be applied as required.
- Focus on Accountability of Vigilance Departments of Government Offices:
The Vigilance Department is any Government Office is the first point of redressal for a citizen who faces corruption. Hence there is a strong need to strengthen these vigilance departments, so as to minimize corruption at the source. Towards this, the foll. is to be done:
a. Need to compile a list of all Government Depts with Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) ACB will provide list available with them.
b. Initiating a dialogue with citizens on the effectiveness of Vigilance Departments and the CVOs. Solicit experiences and views of citizens on ways to improve their role, position in the dept and increase their accountability standards.
c. To simultaneously write articles in print media to commence a nationwide debate on structural and systemic changes pertaining to the Vigilance function, including third party audits in Government Depts that should become mandatory, especially for those govt. departments that seek external / central aid.
- ACB Citizen Interface
To organize formal talks with clubs, e.g Rotary and others, area housing societies and associations wherein the ACB officials can talk on focused subjects pertaining to corruption. The objective would be primarily to create awareness that the issue of corruption is being taken seriously by the govt. In addition, such meets would educate the public on ACBs role and activities as much as citizens responsibility in making it a success. Towards this, there is a need to explore topical subjects for discussion, e.g Corruption Who is Responsible, Citizens Participation Towards Eradication of Corrupt Practices etc.
- College / School Programs
There is a need to involve college students in the Anti Corruption crusade. This could be done by tapping the NSS units of colleges to organize programs/ activities within as well as outside college premises. Some of these could be street plays, neighborhood surveys, and essay competitions that could be rewarded during the Vigilance week in November. Information & data collected through students could be compiled for college magazines and community newsletters. To ensure a wider reach for such initiative, newspapers, etc can be approached for tie-ups for particular programmes, such as the essay competition.
- Creating Mass Awareness and undertaking a media campaign against corruption:
A sustained anti corruption media campaign is required through print and audio-visual media. This could be in the form of newspaper adverts, TV adverts ( most TV channels are likely to air the same free of cost), area housing society newsletters, association and clubs notice boards, college talks, posters, cinema theaters and Out of Home Media (OOH Media) at corporate locations and traffic signals. The objective would be to demonstrate the commitment of the government along with concerned agencies towards extermination of corruption as a decadent practice. Such a mass awareness campaign would bring about a change in how citizens view corruption, from acceptable to unacceptable.
6. Changing Mind-set of citizens towards corruption
There is a need to change the mindset of citizens towards corruption by making them realize how it affects them very closely and in their daily lives. Corruption is to be connected with issues that matter to people. For e.g.:
– Indias cricket team performance
– Potholes on the road
– Building collapse, etc.
A series of articles in Newspapers and Journals explaining this concept to be done. Some online research needs to be done linking corrupt practices to issues like environment, economic growth, poverty, unemployment, literacy, personal & work ethics as also development. Statistical data compilation would help in developing write-ups and articles to be published in major national dailies. In addition, resource persons could be contacted in reputed institutes like TISS and Nirmala Niketan as also journalists for inputs. Linking corruption to broader issues could also be a subject for college competitive essays.
7. Surveys
Students of Tata Institute of Social Studies, SNDT and Nirmala Niketan could be encouraged to conduct Surveys amongst the public / citizens on issues pertaining to corruption. This could be compiled in Report form and presented to the stake holders in various forms.
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Suggestions for Structural / Systemic Changes in Government Vigilance Departments:
- Need to be made accountable
- Accountability to be to an external person / organization (e.g. to ACB) and not to the Head of that same Government Department. Alternately the Vigilance Department / its Officers need to be external to the organization in which they are operating.
- Government Departments which do not have a CVO should be ineligible for Central / World Bank / external funding
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Suggested Topics for Essay / Debate / Discussion:
a. A major obstacle towards achieving Vision India – 2020 is Corruption
b. Effects of Corruption in our daily lives
c. Why is corruption not the top agenda for all Govt. departments (except Mah. Sales Tax)?
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