Computerisation still at sea?

Raja Simhan T.E

INDIAN brains can overcome any technological challenge. But can technology overcome the working of an Indian brain?'' is the repartee you get from the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), R.N. Vittal, when you ask him why there are starting glitches to the Vigilance Alert System (VAS) that he mooted for eradicating ''corruption'' in the Customs and Central Excise.

The system failed to take off not due to lack of technology (most of the companies associated with shipping in Chennai have Internet access), but because the trade members felt that they could be harassed in future by the department officials against whom a complaint was lodged, it appears.

The CVC conceived the VAS in February 2000 as a tool of e-Governance. It was a complete Web application created to provide a quick, easy, transparent and efficient solution for public grievances.

Above all, it was to prevent ''corrupt'' practices in the two departments, according to a trade notice issued then by the Central Board of Customs and Excise.

The system was intended to dispose of genuine grievances as well as bogus complaints speedily.

It was also supposed to eliminate the lag between the time a complaint is lodged and its investigation.

Speedy disposal would also ensure that a baseless complaint does not take up the time of the investigating officers, thus leaving genuine complaints unattended for a long time, the notice says.

But, despite creating awareness, and spending a few lakh of rupees on the system, the trade was averse to using it, fearing harassment from the department officials, say sources in the Chennai Customs House.

A department official says not even one case has been reported to the department since the system was introduced. It was the same with the Central Excise.

According to a Customs House Agent (CHA), one person attempted to use the system, but the complaint went in loops from one official to another.

There was also no confidentiality of the complaint. There was an enquiry, and the case went on for months, before the person gave up.

The agent says, ''some department officials, even amongst the lowest cadres, can make nuisance value out of the complaint. The officials can delay the documentation clearance. This could, in turn, lead to business loss for the consignee. It is out of this fear that the trade members were not willing to use the VAS.''

'Speed money' takes over

The agent says that the situation has changed in the last few years in the Customs department, and the level of ''corruption'' has come down following changes in the duty structure for imports. Even mis-declaration has come down, since the documentation is done through EDI (electronic data interchange).

''However, speed money has replaced corruption. Some of the officials still demand a price for processing the document,'' says the agent, who does not want to be identified.

Some of the top officials at the Chennai Customs agreed with the CHA. But, they also had a different view for the trade not using the system.

Says an official, ''one problem why the trade does not want to use the system is that they do not want to complain in writing about corruption in the department, but want action on the erring officials. This is not possible at all, as the department has specific rules for taking complaints.''

The VAS was designed to give the names and addresses of the person giving the complaint, which would be electronically sent to officials at various levels. It was transparent, and any official can view the complaint. ''Why it failed to take off, I don't know,'' says the official.

''Most of the complaints would be on officials asking for speed money for processing a document, or for refund. Yes, there is a fear among the trade on harassment from the department officials. We enjoy a lot of power,'' he however concedes. Within the department, severe action is taken against a corrupt official, if he is caught red-handed.

The punishment could be suspension, transfer or even removal from service. In the last case, it could mean that no government organisation can recruit him/her in future, says the official. 5

raja@thehindu.co.in

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