Vigilance Awareness Week begins, All encouraged to take Integrity Pledge

Vigilance Awareness Week begins, All encouraged to take Integrity Pledge The Central Vigilance Commission, as part of its efforts to promote probity in public life and to achieve a corruption free society, observes Vigilance Awareness Week every year. The week in which 31st October, the birthday of late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel falls is observed as Vigilance Awareness Week. The observance of Vigilance Awareness Week renews our commitment to achieve the goals of promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in public life. The Commission, therefore, lays greater emphasis on generation of awareness among the public as a more effective and sustainable means of fighting corruption. Public participation in promoting integrity and eradicating Corruption" has been chosen as the theme for Vigilance Awareness Week this year by the Commission. We need to eliminate corruption for taking the economic growth to needy sections of the society. Although various anti-corruption agencies strive to address the problem of corruption, their efforts cannot be accomplished without the active participation of all the stakeholders. It is therefore, imperative that an aware, active and empowered public is involved in any anti-corruption campaign. The Commission believes that creation of greater awareness among public and their participation in anti-corruption efforts would strengthen the resolve to eliminate corruption from society. The Commission appeals to all stakeholders for wide participation and all around generation of awareness among all sections of society. Addressing a Press Conference on the occasion, the Central Vigilance Commissioner Shri KV Chowdary, accompanied by the two Vigilance Commissioners, Shri TM Bhasin and Shri Rajiv, said the CVC is conducting a study of 25 CPSEs/Ministries/Departments/PSBs etc from different sectors to be covered for their ranking on the Integrity Index based on their performance to ensure corruption free environment. The list includes the Oil Sector giants IOC and ONGC, NTPC, Power Grid Corporation, SAIL, Eastern Coalfields and Western Coalfields, PNB, Syndicate Bank, Railways, NHAI, Mumbai Port Trust, RVNL, NMDC, NALCO, BEL, BHEL, FCI, CCI, EPFO, CBDT, MTNL, DDA, South MCD and MCI. The CVC stated that there are about 200 posts of Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) out of which about 150 are appointed through the DoPT and the remaining are appointed by the concerned agencies/organizations in consultation with the CVC. These posts are filled by the Government on priority and wherever vacancy, the same is managed with additional charge. Regarding the number of prosecution cases, he said all the Cadre Controlling Authorities decide the same in consultation with CVC on priority basis. The observance of the Vigilance Awareness Week commenced with pledge taking by public servants in the Ministries/Departments/Central Public Sector Enterprises/Public Sector Banks and all other Organizations today at 11.00am. All the organizations have been advised to consider activities relevant to the theme both within their organization as well as for outreach for public /citizens during the Vigilance Awareness Week. In addition to these activities, the Commission has envisaged a concept of Integrity Pledge, for enlisting support and commitment of the citizens and corporates/entities/firms etc to prevent and combat corruption. The pledges, one for citizens and the other for organizations, intend to affirm commitment to eradicate corruption and to uphold highest standards of ethical conduct, transparency and good governance. The pledges are available as e-pledges on the Commissions website (http://cvc.nic.in) in regional languages also. Citizens and organizations taking the Integrity pledge would be provided a certificate acknowledging and appreciating their commitment to the cause of anti-corruption. The Commission has requested that concerted efforts may be made to reach out to the school and college students who have an important role to play in promoting integrity as well as in the eradication of corruption. During the Vigilance Awareness Week in the previous year, competitions and activities for college and school students were conducted by various organizations on a large scale reaching out to about 1600 colleges and 2300 schools in over 400 towns/cities across the country. Encouraged by the response of the activities held in the previous year, the Commission desires that this year also, all organizations may conduct various activities such as lectures, panel discussions, debates, quiz, essay writing, slogans and poster competitions on moral values, ethics, good governance practices etc. for inculcating greater awareness on corruption and anti-corruption measures for ensuring active participation of students of colleges / schools including professional colleges/institutions across the country. As a part of the activities suggested by the Commission to be conducted within the organizations as well as the outreach activities for public/ citizens, it was advised Awareness Gram Sabhas" would be organised for dissemination of awareness in Gram Panchayats to sensitise citizens on the ill effects of corruption.

Vigilance Awareness Week begins, All encouraged to take Integrity Pledge

More From This Section

Vigilance Awareness week commences from today

Text of PMs address at the 50th Anniversary of Establishment of High Court of Delhi at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi

Text of PMs speech at flagging off ceremony of 'Run for Unity' on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas

PM flags off Run For Unity; releases stamp to commemorate the anniversary of Sardar Patel

Explore News