Anti corruption drive has few takers

Poor organisation, lukewarm response kills a good idea.
Mauli Buch

IT MAY have been a noble idea but thanks to lack of organisational skills,
managed to get only a lukewarm response. In a unique strategy, the Anti
Corruption Bureau (ACB) decided to hold road shows to create an awareness
against corruption among the citizens of Mumbai.

Having launched from South Mumbai, the drive moved on to the western
suburbs, earlier this week.

But when this HT Lives reporter visited the two spots in Bandra (E) where
the mobile van deployed by the ACB was stationed, she found that not much
effort was being put into mobilising the masses in order to spread the
message, nor were passers by interested in knowing all about it.
Though the intention of the drive was to explain the procedure to file a
complaint against corrupt officers, citizens just walked past the van,
hardly showing any in terest. The van itself adorned with partially torn
posters and banners and just two constables, hardly made an inviting
picture.

The drive started from Sales Tax Office in Bandra (E). The awareness van
went around the MHADA office in Bandra (E) and then to BMC ward office in
Bandra (W), ending at Chetna College in Bandra (E). The few citizens who
showed interest in knowing about the drive were given pamphlets that
narrated the procedure, a toll number for registering complaints, addresses
and the telephone number of the bureau.

The constables deputed at the locations did their best to explain the
procedure to the minimal number of citizens who approached them but clearly
lacked in persuasive skills as they could not rope in many citizens.
"We were approached by a couple of citizens at the Sales Tax office who
asked for directions to make complaints. Most of them complained of having
to bribe the officers to get their work done," claimed constable Chandan
Shire, who was deputed on the spot.

The van will continue treading the city till it has covered all the areas.
Mauli.buch@hindustantimes.com

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