Biren bats to fight corruption

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, October 29, 2018: The state government directed all Manipur government departments to observe the “Vigilance Awareness Week” with the theme “Eradicate Corruption — Build a New India” from today till November 3.

On these days and all through the year, we should be focusing on preventive measures to fight corruption, bring transparency and accountability in our functioning and sensitize citizens on the ill effects of corruption, said Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh in his message on the vigilance awareness week.

“I, earnestly hope that observance of “Vigilance Awareness Week” 2018 would be a significant step towards creating a transparent, responsive administrative system and a Corruption Free India,” said the chief minister.

One of the most crucial tasks before us today is to eradicate corruption. Bribery, nepotism and use of public office for private gain have generally limited our country’s social and economic progress, creating an unjust society in which there is a clear division between the haves and the have nots. Corruption undermines the rule of law, strangles economic growth and affects the lives of the poor most severely, he added.

Our fight against corruption cannot be carried on by an individual agency like the state vigilance commission or any department or government alone but every sector of our society including students, businessmen, social/ public leaders, civil societies and all citizens in every walk of life should also contribute their mite for eradicating corruption in order to make Manipur a “Corruption Free State”, said the chief minister.

He said this government has Zero-tolerance for corruption. We have taken up various steps to eradicate corruption and make Manipur a corruption free state. In addition to the state vigilance commission being already in existence, an anti-corruption wing within the vigilance department has been established and the vigilance department has been revamped as vigilance and anti-corruption department to fight corruption more effectively. In order redress public grievance and bring transparency in governance as well as delivery of services to the citizens, the state government has been observing “Hill Leaders Day” and “Meeyamgi Numit” (People’s Day) once every month wherein the general public is given an opportunity to submit any grievance or query to the government. The state government has also been organising “Go to Village” programmes once every week for door step delivery of services to ordinary citizens.

Realizing the importance of e-governance as an effective preventive measure to fight corruption and also to enhance transparency and accountability, this government has been putting in relentless efforts to improve e-governance such as launch of website of Digital Application for Review by Public and Nation, Go To Village portal, Grievance Redressal portal, etc. The state government has also started implementing e-Cabinet during its Cabinet sittings, said the chief minister.