Corruption undermines growth, development and good governance. It also erodes the foundation of democracy and frustrates the hopes and aspirations of people by denying them the right to live with dignity. Vigilance officials should continue to work with the highest professional standards and set new benchmarks on the anticorruption front. Chief Minister Naveen Patanik said this addressing a State-level programme on Vigilance Awareness Week held here on Friday.
He said his Government has adopted a ‘Zero Tolerance’ approach to corruption in order to make basic public services are made available to the people at the grassroots level in a fair and transparent manner, and the benefits of welfare and developmental schemes reach the needy.
While 5T initiatives are meant to achieve transformational goals in governance and ensure better delivery of public goods and services to the people, Mo Sarkar is a proactive step to empower people with rightful entitlements.
The Chief Minister said his Government has been taking a number of steps to strengthen the State Vigilance so that officials can discharge their mandate more professionally and serve the people in a better way. A new Vigilance Division at Rourkela has been approved. The State Vigilance Academy established at Bhubaneswar would upgrade the knowledge and skills of vigilance officers, he said.
He urged people to renew their resolve to fight against corruption, and strengthen the transparency and anti-corruption initiatives of the Government.
On the occasion, Bhubaneswar Vigilance declared the State’s best Vigilance Division. For this, SP Dr Sarthak Sarangi received the award. Sadananda Pani was awarded as the State’s Best Vigilance Investigating Officer. Jharsuguda Vigilance Unit was awarded as the best unit and Hemanta Kumar Swain as the Best Public Prosecutor of Vigilance. Anusaya Senapati received award as the Best Woman Investigating Officer.
The Chief Minister also distributed prizes to students who won various competitions. During the week, the Vigilance set up ‘Integrity Clubs’ in a number of schools and colleges and held ‘Awareness Gram Sabhas’ at gram panchayats, involving Self Help Groups and members of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Development Commissioner and ACS Suresh Chandra Mohapatra also graced the function presided over by Vigilance Director Dr Debasis Panigrahi. The integrity pledge was administered by the Chief Minister.
While IO Sucheta Priyadarshini compered the programme, IG, Vigilance PS Ranpise proposed vote of thanks.