Fight corruption at doorstep

Sayli Udas

Mumbai, November 29: Come December and you will find a mobile van of the
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) stationed in your locality, to help you lodge
complaints against your local policeman, ration shop owner or the government
official you might have been compelled to bribe.
This move comes as a part of the Mumbai-Pact Against Corruption (M-PAC), a
long-term programme launched by ACB on account of the Vigilance Week earlier
this month. As part of the programme, the civic body will collaborate with
citizens and NGOs to fight corruption.

"One of the best ways to tackle corruption is to involve the community and
encourage citizens to lodge complaints. This initiative helps them to get to
us," said Hemant Karkare, Joint Commissioner of Police, ACB.
"Many citizens do not know how and where to file complaints regarding
corruption. Some of them are also afraid to lodge a complaint, we will help
people overcome their fear," he added.

The objectives of M-PAC range from building up social consciousness against
corruption, organising a sustained mechanism involving the ACB and citizens'
groups, recommending systematic improvements in policies and procedures of
various governmental organisations and finally, acting as a channel through
which citizens can approach the ACB.

Through discussions between the ACB and NGOs about involving citizens in
M-PAC, it was observed that the ACB office at Worli was too far for
concerned citizens who wanted to register a complaint. Also, there was a
general lack of awareness regarding the ACB.

Presently, the ACB is looking at two pilot projects-getting students
involved in sensitising the community and reaching out to Mumbaiites through
the mobile va-which is scheduled to begin from the first week of December.
The van will be located at a particular area for a week, giving local
citizens the chance to come forward with their complaints.
The NGO council of Mumbai has welcomed the move and approached Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) to be a part of the initiative.
"Corruption arises due to the unnecessary gaps and procedural formalities in
policies that we can jointly eradicate by identifying such practices through
M-PAC," said Vinay Somani, convenor, NGO council.

However, NGOs like Mahadhikar, which works towards ensuring transparency in
governance, feels otherwise. "The disease of corruption is a deep-rooted one
and such small initiatives might not make a big difference," said Keval
Simlani, founder, Mahadhikar. "Stronger and more transparent procedures will
give ACB the power to take up decisions suo moto, which it currently isn't
entitled to do," he added.

To tackle corruption
* Call 1-800-222021 toll free anywhere from India and lodge a complaint
* Email: acbwebmail@gmail.com
* The complaint can be anonymous
* You can name the actual public servant involved
* You can give actual instances where you have been asked to pay a bribe, or
you had to pay a bribe.