Team Anna and other civil society organisations fighting corruption may find resonance in the Central Vigilance Commission's (CVC) frank admission that there was a lack of sound follow-up action on the corruption cases the constitutional body investigates against governmental organisations and public sector officials.

In its annual report for 2010, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Mr V. Narayanaswamy, the CVC deplored that “its annual report to the Parliament does not reach its logical conclusion as there is little debate and discussion for eliciting preventive and corrective actions” on its findings and recommendations.

It further said the “ineffectiveness” of current anti-corruption efforts has led to citizens losing faith in the system and the institutional mechanisms available. It also blames the current vigilance approach, which is largely ‘reactive' with less accent on preventive and proactive strategies, for the diminished participation of all stakeholders in fostering better governance.

The report, signed by two Vigilance Commissioners, Mr R. Sri Kumar and Mr J.M. Garg, on June 30, also contends that public apathy towards vigilance activities and a higher tolerance for corruption in society emboldens the corrupt, with the increasing complexity of fraud and corruption posing new challenges. Institutional mechanism for exchange of information and best practices should be put in place, the report suggests.

Citizens' vigilance

It states that the growing demand for stepping up anti-corruption initiatives and governance reforms has propelled the CVC to take several fresh initiatives. The latest among these is its formulation of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy for a concerted fight against corruption. The new strategy recognises that corruption cannot be reduced through governmental action unless citizens and private business entities refrain from corrupt practices, it said.

In this regard, it openly concedes that anti-corruption efforts over the last five decades were focused on the demand side, ignoring the culpable supply side. Hence, the proposed strategy, the CVC claims, would prescribe “a participative and holistic approach to address corruption from all sides”.

Technical aids

To widen the scope of preventive vigilance, the Commission also plans to institute a system of technical vigilance audit in major organisations dealing with procurement and projects last year, and a few works have been taken up by the Commission in this regard.

The report also notes that many complaints pertain to inordinate delays, adhocism and arbitrariness in decision-making in service/regulatory functions, such as issue of various licences and certificates by government agencies.

“Non-adherence to first-cum-first-served principle and lack of objectivity and consistency in applying rules and procedures while granting licences, certificates, permissions are areas which afford an opportunity for the public servants to indulge in corrupt practices,” the report says, adding that lack of transparency and accountability in all operational areas of organisations was a major concern.

Hence, it suggests leveraging technology for transparency, especially in public procurement and contracts, to forestall irregularities by public servants.

It has titled its 2010 annual report as “Transparency through Technology”.

>geeyes@thehindu.co.in

Published on August 26, 2011