The Hindu : New Delhi News : Official's arrest a tip of the iceberg

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Friday, Jan 21, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Official's arrest a tip of the iceberg

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, JAN. 20. The arrest of the Food and Supplies Officer (Enforcement), Kuldeep Dhankar, by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 2 lakhs is only the tip of the iceberg about the "rampant corruption" prevailing in the Food and Supplies Department of the Delhi Government. It also points to the `rot' prevailing in the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the Capital and the failure of the authorities to address the concerns of the poor people.

Notwithstanding the tall claims of the officials time and again that everything was working smoothly in the Department as well as with the PDS process, this incident has exposed the deep rooted corruption in the whole system and the failure of the Delhi Government to address repeated complaints about such a situation prevailing within. Interestingly, the PDS process in Delhi has come under "serious public scrutiny" and various voluntary groups as well as activists have lodged strong protests against the manner in which the officials at various levels were conniving with the touts, contractors and middlemen to siphon off food grains, kerosene oil and other items meant for the poor people. It is also reveals the callous attitude of the senior officials in the Department who have failed to take action against the corrupt.

Interestingly, spearheading this movement against corruption in the Department and the nexus prevailing between the officials and the middlemen, Parivartan, the NGO working in this sector has a lot of grouse against the Department and its officials. Arvind Kejriwal of Parivartan states that they had filed 190 complaints against officials at various levels but no action has been taken till date to dismantle this strong nexus that exists between officials, contractors, depot owners and touts at various levels. In fact, the National Campaign for People's Right to Information has written to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, complaining against the failure of the Sheila Dikshit Government to take action against the corrupt in the Food and Supplies Department. "These offences are covered under the Essential Commodities Act and they are cognizable offences. The Government is bound under the Act to file FIRs in such cases that can result in imprisonment up to seven years. But not a single FIR has been filed till date despite repeated meetings and complaints," said Mr. Kejriwal.

What is even more shocking is that while the Delhi Government makes tall claims about the success of "Bhagidari Scheme" in various spheres, it has failed to address the concerns of the poor. The Bhagidari seems to be limited in this sector to making money between the corrupt and unscrupulous elements and hardly offers anything for the poor people. "There is hardly any spirit of sharing information and listening to complaints in the Department. These issues need to be approached with an open mind and not with vindictive attitude. Here is the case where one corrupt official protests another and the chain extends to vary high levels including political. This should open the eyes of the Government. The campaign against corruption should not be limited to issuing sermons and making Citizens Charter but should be effectively implemented on ground," a senior official remarked.

On the other hand, the arrest of Mr. Dhankar is very disturbing, as he is understood to have been appointed recently on a very strong political recommendation from within the Delhi Government. It is understood the CBI had seized certain documents that contain details about the payments received by the accused and the payments made by him to various sources within the Department and the Government.

These claims are being verified by the investigation agencies but it is high time for the Delhi Government to step in and arrest this rot.

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