Internal Vigilance to fight bureaucratic corruption in Kerala

With the tussle between a section of IAS officers and Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau continuing in Kerala, VACB Chief, DGP Jacob Thomas has given directions to strengthen internal vigilance mechanism in all government departments and PSUs to reduce corruption at the bureaucratic level.
In a recent circular, Thomas said an effective internal mechanism, which measures inefficiency, inaction and abuse or misuse of power by officers in various government departments and PSUs, is a requirement for good governance.
The circular on internal vigilance by the VACB assumes significance in the wake of dissatisfaction expressed by a section of senior IAS officers against the alleged "vindictive" attitude by Jacob Thomas.

"Quarterly or half-yearly Good Governance Audit is essential to check officers who do not deliver results and desired impact due to their inaction, incompetence, carelessness or inefficiency and ineffectiveness in governance," he said in the circular.
"An administrative vigilance is set up in all departments including those of the Secretariat (administrative hub), all Public Sector Undertakings and other Autonomous Government or quasi government bodies which may be known by the name Vigilance Cell or Vigilance Wing," he said.
According to the circular, 'Input Tracking Audit' and 'Benefit Tracking Audit' of all programmes, schemes or projects in order to quantify corruption and pilferage which manifests to general public form part of 'integrated vigilance' intervention.

Detailing the need of such an in-house mechanism, the official said VACB takes up organisation study of departments/ PSUs and other institutions with an aim to avoid delay in the enquiries or investigations and to observe touch-points of corruption on a constant basis.

The government has set up the 'internal vigilance' or 'administrative vigilance system' as a preventive measure to reduce the space to practice corruption within all departments and PSUs, he said.
In addition, departments or PSUs that follow good management also have set up in place adequate strategic controls and operational control system for sustained superior performance.
The VACB chief also directed his fellow officials to identify internal vigilance mechanism in government departments, PSUs or organisations at the district level and state level and do 'capacity building' of such internal vigilance in terms of knowledge, skill and attitude towards 'zero tolerance to corruption'.