CM promises people scam-free governance

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 1. The Government plans to come out with a clearly defined strategy to contain corruption and put it for a public debate shortly.

A concrete plan of action is expected to be unveiled in 15 days after consultation with the Lok Ayukta, the top brass of Vigilance Commission, the Vigilance and Enforcement and the Anti- Corruption Bureau.

These decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, at the Secretariat on Friday. The Minister for Home, Mr. T. Devender Goud, the Minister for Finance, Mr. Y. Ramakrushnudu, the Minister for Roads and Buildings, Mr. K. Vijayarama Rao, and the Minister for School Education, Mr. K. Srihari, the Chief Secretary, Mr. P. V. Rao, and other senior officials attended.

The Chief Minister outlined the steps already initiated to minimise corruption and vowed to give people clean, scam-free governance by putting down the rampant evil with an `iron hand', according to a press release by the CMO.

He felt that scrapping of discretionary powers of all individual officers and revamping of the administrative system would facilitate corruption-free government. He had striven to give a new and innovative model of governance. In the last five years, while almost every State administration was affected by scams, scandals or allegations, the Andhra Pradesh Government steered clear of such controversies and presented a `clean image'.

Underscoring the crucial role of the ACB, Vigilance Commission, the Vigilance and Enforcement Directorate in tackling the growing problem, Mr. Naidu said they should all work in tandem with a focussed objective. Men of integrity and honesty should be selected to handle these jobs and their functioning subjected to periodic review. For its part, the Government would extend full cooperation and assistance to these agencies. He was prepared to provide monetary incentives, better service conditions and other facilities to attract the best people, who rise above personal prejudices, egos and past equations.

He said the administration should instil fear of law and God in the corrupt. He was informed that the deputy speaker of a legislature in China was hanged for corruption. A Singapore taxi driver detailed to him what kind of punishment awaited a cabby who broke the norms.

Mr. Naidu said care should be taken to ensure honest and clean people were not demoralised while the erring and the corrupt should be punished. Systems should be streamlined to improve performamnce in preventive, detective and punitive aspects. Complaints cells should be set up in all offices, including his own.

Mr. Ramakrushnudu favoured declaration of assets by all those who drew salary from the exchequer. The good and clean image commanded by the Chief Minister in the country could be harnessed to combat corruption with an iron hand.

According to official sources, Mr. S N. Dwivedi, DG, Vigilance and Enforcement, pleaded for a free hand in the choice of officers taken on deputation to man sensitive assignments, Mr. P. V. Naidu, DG, Vigilance (Civil Supplies), felt mere repatriation of an erring officer to the parent department was no solution; it should be accompanied by stringent punishment. The DG, ACB, Mr. P. Ramulu, sought sanction of Rs 5 crores for setting up special courts to expedite pending ACB cases. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr. S. D. Mukherjee, said rules and procedures should be revised and made stricter to minimise corruption. The DG of Police, Mr. H. J. Dora, wanted vigilance in all expenditure departments stepped up. The DG of the MCR Institute of HRD, Mr. P. V. R. K. Prasad, suggested training for senior officials of different departments on disciplinary proceedings and handling corruption-related issues.

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Section  : Southern States
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