DISCUSSING EFFICIENCY: (From left) KSGEA president L. Byrappa, Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde, Karnataka Media Academy chairman V.N. Subba Rao and advocate B. Srinivasa Gowda at the inauguration of a workshop on efficiency in administration, in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: Don't regard the Lokayukta as an adversary, but join in its fight against corruption, and help make good governance a reality, Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde urged government employees here on Saturday.

Speaking at a workshop on "Efficiency in administration and quick response to people's problems" organised by the Karnataka State Government Employees Association (KSGEA), Mr. Hegde said the institution of Lokayukta was not meant to engage in witch-hunts against corrupt officials. "We are open to suggestions, and good governance is our objective; fighting corruption is only a part of it."

The gap between the legislature and the executive had closed, and this meant uncalled for interference by people who did not hold any office in the day-to-day work of employees.

Mr. Hegde said the first step to achieving a corruption-free work environment was to change one's mindset. "Don't succumb to the pressure of self-styled power centres who have no business being in your offices and telling you how to do your job. If you are being forced to do something against your conscience, ask your senior officials to make a note or ensure that there is a record of it," he said. Mr. Hegde called for a new transfer policy that did not bend to the whims and fancies of politicians.

He said he had written to the chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, with this suggestion: "A fixed tenure is good for an administrator and for the system itself; it accords greater responsibility and accommodates ethical functioning," the Lokayukta said.

He also suggested that when officials were transferred prematurely, the grounds for their transfers should be placed on record.

The Lokayukta too is not a corruption-free institution, because it is staffed by officials drawn from the same source as other departments and institutions, he said.

Veteran journalist and chairman of the Karnataka Media Academy V.N. Subba Rao said the politician-official nexus, which was playing caste politics and eroding the social fabric, must be crushed. Echoing the Lokayukta's views, he said those in government service could begin by remembering that the 6.5 lakh government employees constituted one per cent of the State's population, but 40 per cent of the budgetary allocation went towards their salaries.

KSGEA president L. Byrappa and general secretary B.S. Prabhakar Prasad were present.

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