Portal makes whistle-blowing easy

Against the backdrop of concerns about corporate governance, a whistle blowing website is offering businesses an opportunity to receive confidential information while protecting identity of the whistle blower.

The Corporate Whistle Blower Initiative (CWI), a web-based helpline, has attracted corporates including Edelweiss, Bharti Group and Punj Lloyd.

Financial services entity Edelweiss Group's COO Himanshu Kaji said that being part of CWI provides another tool to protect our overall reputation as well as make governance things more transparent.

"CWI is an independent portal and it also protects the identity of the whistle blower. These make employees, especially at junior levels, more comfortable (in reporting something)," Kaji noted.

He added there have been no complaints so far.

The portal (www.Cwiportal.Com) has a system in place whereby the identity of the whistle blower remains anonymous. It also tracks the follow up action taken by the concerned company, according to CWI's founder Amit Paul.

"The aim is to have a participatory approach towards corporates... Our members include Edelweiss, Bharti Group and Punj Lloyd," Paul said.

CWI's advisory board includes M Damodaran, former chief of market regulator Sebi and noted corporate personality Tarun Das.