ACB rolls out van to check on corruption

Mumbai, Jan. 9: The Anti-Corruption Bureau or ACB has come out with a novel idea of mobile vans to enable people to make complaints against bribery and corruption. It started this month, said assistant commissioner of ACB, Dr Pradnya Saravade.

The van will be stationed at major government offices like the sales tax office. the Old Customs house, the octroi naka — places where people come in contact with government servants where bribes are more likely to be demanded.

A constable in the van will distribute pamphlets appealing to people to fight corruption and not to be afraid to complain.

The reason for parking the van around these places is that people can come straight to the van and make a complaint if a bribe is asked for, said ACP Sarvade.

The idea of the mobile van came up during a meeting of the Mumbai - Pact Against Corruption or M-PAC which was launched in November 2006 by the ACB along with the NGO Council whose convenor is Mr Vinay Somani. Mr Somani said that ACP Saravade was quick to act on it.

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