The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Educate citizens, lessen graft

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Educate citizens, lessen graft

By Our Staff Reporter

Chennai. Nov. 6. Educating people and transparency are essential to eradicate corruption, speakers at a vigilance awareness week function said here today.

B.S. Raghavan, former United Nations Policy Advisor and Chief Secretary, said politicians should be deprived of the powers to transfer and promote civil servants. Instead, such powers should be vested with those who are above politics.

He suggested that an independent board be constituted to decide on tenders for works involving more than Rs.1 crore.He also wanted a procedure akin to a military court martial for punishing the corrupt.Former Director General of Police, V.R. Lakshminarayanan, called for greater transparency in public life, education, quicker disposal of cases and public vigil.

Geetha Ramaseshan, the advocate, felt that people who challenge corruption faced a risk. There was little protection for those who raise their voice against corruption. Though there were laws to protect those who oppose corruption, they needed to be strengthened.

K.Venkataswami, former Supreme Court Judge, said customers and users needed to be educated about complaint handling and avenues for redressal of complaints in government departments.

The public should not take corruption lightly and should not feel that it is inevitable. They should be made aware of the existence of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and its efforts to eliminate corruption. They should also be made aware of the measures ways and means devised by the CVC to eliminate corruption., he said.

Prizes were distributed to school and college students who won in the oratorical competitions. for school and college students on the occasion.

V. Ramaswamy, General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation and Dr. Sarojini Varadappan, chairperson, Mylapore Academy, were among the participants.ed.

The programme was jointly organised by the Mylapore Academy and Indian Oil Corporation.

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