Drive against graft

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, DEC. 1. The Rajasthan Government proposes to launch a campaign against corruption in its offices. As many as 12 government departments are currently under scrutiny and those found having a tainted track record in office will be compulsorily retired. There is also a proposal to create an authority on the lines of the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) in the State to closely monitor the situation.

Participating in a Meet-the-Press programme here at the Pink City Press Club today to mark the completion of his two years in office, the Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, said it would take a month to give a definite shape to the anti-corruption mechanism. Starting from civil servants to the lower ranks, a review would be carried out to weed out the black sheep, he said.

Answering a volley of questions on his Government's performance, the Chief Minister said he could not fulfil all the dreams even as the ``people of the State had exalted aspirations'' from his Government after electing the Congress(I) back to power with a three-fourths majority in the Assembly. He conceded that the debts had increased after his Government took over but then there was a drought to fight.``We have been successful in the social sector - in the welfare of the SC/ST, backwards, women and minorities - and in providing relief to the drought-affected'', Mr. Gehlot claimed. The Government had done fairly well in sectors like health, education, drinking water and power generation, he said.

Mr. Gehlot said his Government would try to clean up the system. ``Everyone is worried about the growing corruption in public life and in offices. If we cannot get rid of it we can at least try to keep it down to the minimum'', he said.

Mr. Gehlot confessed that the State Government was not yet clear on how to go about it but a pattern would soon emerge. ``We are studying the CVC pattern in this connection and may consider having a Chief Vigilance Officer who will work in tandem with the anti-corruption department'', he said.

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Section  : Other States
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