BHUBANESWAR: Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) KV Chowdary on Wednesday called for more focus on preventive vigilance for not only tackling corruption but also using it as an effective measure for good governance.
Prevention of corruption and unfair practices is more effective than chasing such activities. Pre-empting possibilities of corruption would strengthen governance systems ensuring best quality services to citizens. But sadly, the entire role of Vigilance officers is now directed on punitive aspects rather than prevention, the CVC observed.
Delivering the 15th Nalco Foundation Day Lecture on ‘Preventive Vigilance - key to good corporate governance’, Chowdary urged changes in Governance systems to give effect to preventive vigilance by plugging loopholes that give rise to corruption.
“There is an urgent need for simplification of procedures and rules and instituting standard operating procedures (SOPs) at all levels that would be mandatory for everyone to follow without any other option. The existing complicated and vague procedures are open to different interpretations, thus exposing themselves to unfair practices. We need to bring in mechanisms to ensure that processes are diligently followed and complied,” he said.
Outlining several measures like lessening discretion and minimising the points of contact to lower scope of misuse, Chowdary also strongly pressed for accelerated disposal of Vigilance cases to instil fear of law among the susceptible.
“We conducted a study which threw up startling results. While cases are stipulated to be disposed of within one and a half years, average disposal time was found to be 94 months beyond the mandated timeframe. Cases are left pending for over 20 years and delays have rendered investigations into an absolute nullity. We need to enforce a rigid timeframe for demonstrative effect,” he stated.
He also underlined the importance of having a robust system for constant feedback along with the mechanism to continuously evaluate and analyse various systems so that the scope of unfair practices are completely eliminated.
Chowdary presented the newly instituted Nalco Kalidas Awards to Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati Prof Harekrushna Satapathy and VC of Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya, Puri Prof Gangadhar Panda for their significant contribution to promotion of Sanskrit. The awards carry a cash prize of `50,000 each.
Among others, Nalco CMD TK Chand was present.