With aggressive campaigning to make people aware about helpline to rid the city of the menace of corruption, the Arvind Kejriwal Government will re-launch the anti-corruption helpline from April 2, a little more than a month after coming back to power in the Capital. It is reliably learnt that the massive advertising campaign may cost about Rs7 crore to the Government to operationalise the helpline that would work 24X7.
During his 49-day tenure as Chief Minister in 2013, Kejriwal had launched a helpline number — (011) 27357169 — saying anyone who is asked to pay bribe by any official in Delhi can seek help on that phone number. Of the 1.2 lakh calls received on the Anti-Corruption helpline 1031 during the 49 days of the AAP Government, only one case relating to a sting operation has been registered with the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi Government. However, according to data available with the ACB, of the total calls, only 4,000 were related to corruption. Of these, only 300 were evidence-based, which had the potential to be investigated further.
According to sources, the Chief Minister is said to have directed all heads of departments to install a board at the reception of their respective offices to display the campaign credits with a clear message for awareness of the visitors about the helpline. A circular in this regard is likely to be issued to all the Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, HoDs and heads of autonomous bodies. Sources said that the Government also intends to launch a massive publicity campaign on outdoor media, Radio FM and through SMSes. The source said that the CM has desired that the awareness campaign should reach maximum people through all walks of life.
“The advertisements would be put up at about 1,500 outdoor locations, including rent free sites, bus queue shelters, display boards, railway bridge panels, unipoles, public utilities and panels inside the Delhi Metro,” a senior official told this newspaper. “The advertisements would also be put up on the rear windows and screens of about 1,000 DTC buses.” There are indications that Kejriwal’s voice may be used in radio jingles. “Though the text of Kejriwal’s message is yet to be finalised, but the CM’s voice in all probability will be used in radio jingles,” the officer said.
The issue of anti-corruption helpline has been a major poll plank of the AAP. Addressing a gathering of thousands in Ramlila Maidan, Kejriwal soon after taking oath as the Chief Minister had said: “If anyone asks for bribe, don’t say no. Use your phone to record the conversation and we will take action against him. We will also restart anti-corruption telephone line it will create fear in the minds of every corrupt individual. We will also introduce the Jan lokpal Bill,” he said.