Manipur launches anti-corruption cell

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The BJP-led coalition government in Manipur on Friday, has launched an anti-corruption cell to check all kinds of corruptions in the state.

BJP spokesperson T. Biswajit Singh said: "A telephone number has been made public and aggrieved persons could lodge all kinds of corruption charges through this number. The identity of the complainants shall be kept confidential."

He added that there are reports of extorting money for services rendered and cash for job scams.

Singh further said that all interviews for the appointment of grade III and IV employees in the state government shall be done away with. "This step was taken to plug the corruption loopholes in appointments of the lower grade employees."

Talking about the sub-standard construction works, he said, "Photographs of such constructions shall be taken at three stages to ensure that there is quality construction. Payments will be made only when the officials and people are satisfied with the quality of the constructions."

The MLA asked people to be vigilant and actively watch out for sub-standard constructions.

This is the third populist step the coalition government, formed on March 15, has taken up. First it had ended the four-month-old economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council against Manipur, protesting against the creation of seven districts.

In the second step, the government is trying to come to an understanding with the tribal activists in Churachandpur district to perform the last rites of the eight tribals killed during agitations over a year ago.

The tribals had protested against the passing of the three bills related to the implementation of the Inner Line Permit system. Altogether nine persons were killed while protesting against the bills. The activists refused to claim the bodies saying that the government should first withdraw the "anti-tribal bills".

However family members of one victim took away the body for last rites. The Congress government had faced a logjam since the tribals said that the government was "communal and anti-tribal".

--IANS

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