National Anti - Corruption Strategy - CVC releases Draft for Comments
THE National Anti-Corruption Strategy represents a blueprint for commitment and action by the various stakeholders to the governance process. It aims at systematic and conscious reshaping of the country's national integrity system. The strategy recommends a set of action to be taken by the government and a set of action by the political entities, judiciary, media, citizens, private sector and civil society organisations. To ensure that the strategy does not remain a mere document, it is envisaged to ensure its effective implementation by developing suitable parameters for evaluating and monitoring the progress of its implementation. The CVC would review the progress on an annual basis and submit a report to the Parliament.
The CVC had appointed a consultant to assist the commission in drafting the strategy. And the Report is ready – it is just another wish list hoping for Utopia!
Some important points in the strategy :
Strategy to deal with petty corruption
++ Government should computerise all activities involving delivery of public services on a mission mode.
++ Simplification of rules and procedures should be undertaken so as to make them citizen friendly and avoid the need for the citizens to approach public officials for intervention.
++ Citizens should be empowered to resist the demand for bribes by instituting mechanisms like “Anti Bribery Hot Lines” or Whistle Blower provisions so that citizens can report solicitation of bribes which should then be followed by prompt action.
++ Promoting the involvement of citizens and Civil Society Organisations in keeping vigil through means like social audit.
Strategy to tackle grand corruption.
++ Political parties should demonstrate political will to fight corruption by adopting and enforcing a code of ethics among members, avoiding conflict of interest in appointment to public offices and adopt integrity in governance and prevention of corruption as a key election manifesto.
++ Until the modalities for state electoral funding are decided, disclosure of source of funding and the annual financial statements of the political parties should be made mandatory.
++ Concealment of ill gotten wealth should be made difficult.
++ Promotion of transparency, objectivity and merit in selection and appointment to important public offices.
++ Transparent and participative policy making with regard to policies governing the issue of licences, auction of public assets.
++ Strengthening the independence and integrity of regulatory bodies.
Strategy to Address Political Corruption
++ Establishment of institutions like the Lokpal and the adoption of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
++ Political parties should adopt a code of ethics and vigorously enforce it.
++ Political parties should avoid conflict of interest while nominating members to public offices like ministers, chairmen or member of parliamentary committees.
++ Commitment to maintaining integrity in governance and combating corruption should be made a key election manifesto by all parties.
++ Modalities for state funding for elections need to be worked out at the earliest.
++ Norms for disclosure of source and amount of funding received by parties should be strengthened.
++ Political executive should move towards transparent and participative policy making.
God knows how much money the CVC has spent in getting this document made and how much of it has gone in corruption. But what did they come up with? Who doesn't know all these lofty goals? But who is interested in curbing corruption? You want political parties to follow a code of ethics but what do you do when ministers walk around with thousands of Crores, ably assisted by the ‘steel frame'? What kind of strategy the Commission can present to the country when the CVC himself is an accused?