SALUTE: Governor T.N. Chaturvedi at the Republic Day celebrations in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Governor T.N. Chaturvedi has stressed the need for a policy of zero tolerance to check corruption. He has also called for proper implementation of the Right to Information Act for effective administration.

In his 24-page address after unfurling the tricolour at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground here on the occasion of the 58th Republic Day celebrations on Friday, Mr. Chaturvedi said "corruption is not merely a dirty word but also a dirty act." The people should assert that there was no difference between a small act of corruption and major instances of malfeasance. "There is no such thing as petty corruption; there is corruption per se," he said.

Karnataka was one of the first States to have a Lokayukta, and it was doing great service. But much more needed to be done. "It is necessary to encourage honest people by ensuring that the corrupt do not thrive. Every act of corruption should be investigated, prosecuted and punished as quickly as possible."

The Governor said errant officials or others should not be protected through extraneous influence or pressure, which unfortunately often happened. "It is necessary to strike at the roots of corruption. Corruption in any walk of life can corrode, decay and annihilate our democratic system," Mr. Chaturvedi said.

The Governor, who witnessed the Republic Day ceremonial parade and cultural programmes, called for speedy execution of pending irrigation projects. Efforts should be made to ensure that the projects were implemented with a sense of urgency to avoid cost escalation.

Administration

On the administration, Mr. Chaturvedi said the time had come to reorient and reinvigorate the administrative delivery system. This could be done by having citizens play a larger role through the Right to Information Act. Administrators needed to understand the impact of the Act for effective administration. It "is a tool for better administration and not a stick to beat the administration with."

He urged the administrators to incorporate technological innovations to cater for evolving needs of the people. Administrators required a new mindset and needed to bring their thinking in line with the emerging world.

The Governor referred to elections to urban local bodies and said many bodies had been dissolved and elections were due. "We hope that the elections to these bodies will be held without undue delay." But much had yet to be done to enable women members of panchayats to play their rightful role in the panchayati raj set-up without interference.

On law and order, the Governor said "it is unfortunate that naxalite activities seem to be gaining ground in the State" and called for steps to address the problems faced by the people in naxal-affected areas. To ensure security for the people, the police force had to be strengthened and also reoriented. Necessary measures should be put in place speedily and effectively, he said.

Referring to Bruhat Bangalore, he hoped that the interests and viewpoints of all sections of society would be considered in a transparent manner to ensure that the changes required received public support.

Land grabbing

The Government had promulgated an Ordinance to deal with those who had encroached upon public lands. "No outside influence — political, caste or personal — will be permitted to hinder the just, fair and long-awaited implementation of the Ordinance," he said.

On a personal note, Mr. Chaturvedi said, "Today is the fifth occasion on which I have had the privilege and honour to address you as the Governor of Karnataka... Born in Uttar Pradesh, having lived and worked in Rajasthan and other parts of north India, I am today in Karnataka."

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner K. Jairaj and Lokayukta Santosh Hegde were among those who attended the parade.

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