The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Use technology to fight graft’

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Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008
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‘Use technology to fight graft’

Special Correspondent

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Discussing strategy: (From left) Vijaya Bank Chairman and Managing Director Prakash P. Mallya, Vigilance Commissioner Ranjana Kumar and Central Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha at the inauguration of a function to mark the first anniversary of the Vigilance Study Circle, in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Bangalore: The drive against corruption should be strengthened on the one hand by using technology to bring about more transparency in the system and, on the other, by providing protection to whistleblowers, said Pratyush Sinha, Central Vigilance Commissioner.

Speaking at the first anniversary of the Vigilance Study Circle here on Tuesday, Mr. Sinha underlined the need to “break the conspiracy of silence” on corruption by encouraging civil society to feel responsible for fighting corruption.

Technology, in a software capital like Bangalore, could prove a useful tool to bring about greater access and objectivity, he said. It is dangerous that India is seen as a “society that tolerates corruption”.

Mr. Sinha warned against being “deluded” by the high growth rate of the Indian economy over the past 15 years and ignoring the need to build a strong systemic base. Corruption had a debilitating effect on the system and created an unequal and unjust society, he said. “We should remember that a corrupt system always favours the rich,” he said.

Breaking the myth that the public sector alone was affected by corruption, he said that it was prevalent in the private sector too. But it was not being taken seriously by private companies, he added.

Ranjana Kumar, Vigilance Commissioner, stressed the need for internal audits to strengthen organisations from within.

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