Mayank Soni, SV Road

In an unique initiative to spread awareness among citizens to fight against corruption, NGO Karmayog, in association with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), has launched an information drive. As a part of the drive, the ACB will station a van outside government offices in the suburbs, and inform people on the type of action (and steps involved in it) that can be taken against corrupt officers.

Says Vinay Somani, trustee of Karmayog, “The idea of the drive is to build a social spine to resist corruption in the society. People have developed an indifference to corruption around them, as the widespread belief is that complaining against it is a pointless exercise; this indifference is dangerous. People need to realise that they can fight corruption, by getting officers who take bribes, arrested. It’s the best way to clean the system.”

The general perception is that the ACB acts on its own, after receiving information of a corrupt practise. However, the complainant work does not end with just providing information, and should continue to work with the ACB to trap the offender red handed, in order to prosecute him.

Somani further explains, “Citizens need to be made aware, that the ACB has definite mandates, under which they have to work. They can investigate complaints of disproportionate incomes of government officers or trap officers accepting bribes. With the ACB office located at Worli, there are fewer complaints from the suburbs.” It’s even more necessary, adds Somani that people are made aware of the ‘hows’ and ‘wheres’ of lodging a complaint.

Giving details on the initiative with NGO Karmayog, Inspector Mangesh Sawant of the ACB headquarter informs, “The van will be stationed at each listed venue for around two hours, and then move on to the next. The purpose of the drive is to inform citizens about the role of ACB. The officers at the van, will brief citizens on the procedures to lodge a complaint.”

However, Sawant clarifies that it’s only an awareness drive, and that complaints will not be registered at this van.

mayank.soni@timesgroup.com

ACB Van Schedule

April 22
Bandra (W), BMC H-West ward office (Hill Road)

April 23
Bandra (W), BMC H-West ward office (Hill Road)

April 26
- Malad, BMC P-North ward office (Mamlatdar Wadi Road)
- Kandivali (W), BMC R-South ward office (MG Road No.2)

April 27
Borivali (W), BMC R-Central Ward office (near Borivali Station)
Andheri (W) RTO office (Four Bungalows), Excise office

April 28
Andheri (W), BMC K-West ward office (near Andheri station), Tehsildar office, Ration office (near Bhavans College)

Westside Plus, April 21, 2007

URL - http://www.westsideplus.com/fullStory.asp?articleID=WP5ART00421200725544