CVC for strict action on tax evasions, black money

The Central Vigilance Commission has called for improved governance to end corruption and taking strict action to check tax evasion and black money.

The probity watchdog stressed on increased transparency in public procurements, besides enforcing accountability and addressing bureaucratic delays along with effective public grievance redressal mechanism in its message on vigilance awareness week to be observed from October 28 to November 2.

"Without good governance, no amount of developmental schemes can bring in improvements in the quality of life of the citizens. Strengthening governance, therefore, is vital and over the recent past, several initiatives have been undertaken to improve the quality of governance. However, a lot more remains to be done.

"Improved governance in the form of eliminating corruption by strict action in respect of tax evasions and black market economy, as well as increased transparency in public procurements is very necessary," the CVC said.

Asserting that governance is exercise of economic, political and administrative authority to manage a country's affairs at all levels, it said enforcing accountability along with addressing bureaucratic delays and effective public grievance redressal mechanism is the way forward.

The probity watchdog also emphasised on leveraging technology to check corruption.

"Experience has shown that increase in transparency, competition and leveraging of technology lead to decline in corruption. There is a need to institutionalise best practices and sustained efforts are required to identify and document such practices," the CVC said in its message to all central government ministries and departments, autonomous bodies, Comptroller and Auditor General and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), among others.

The Commission has been advocating transparency, equity, fairness and encouraging competitiveness as well as leveraging of technology in all areas of functioning of the government and its organisations.

"Promoting good governance is, therefore, the focus of the vigilance awareness campaign this year," it said.

The CVC asked all departments to sensitise employees and people at large about the need for enforcing vigilance mechanism and promoting good practices.