NEW DELHI, July 9:
The Central Vigilance Commission has criticised attempts to blame oversight agencies like the CVC for “so called policy paralysis”, saying it is a mis-perception.
“There has been a tendency to blame the oversight agencies for the inability of public servants to take quick, bold and innovative decisions and for spreading a culture of risk aversion,” Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar said.
“There are also attempts to place the blame for the present day so called ‘policy paralysis’ at the doorstep of the oversight agencies. This is a mis-perception,” he said.
Kumar was addressing the 9th anniversary of Vigilance Study Circle in Hyderabad over the weekend.
The Central Vigilance Commission believes that vigilance is an aid to management and is sensitive to the predicament of the executives.
“If a procedural deviation is supported by a tenable justification which is duly recorded, the Commission does consider it in the right spirit. There has to be room for honest mistake. Moreover, transparency and adherence to rules lead to better outcomes,” Kumar said.
The CVC strongly suggested lessons on business ethics and corporate social responsibility in B-schools to check corruption which weans away domestic and foreign investments.
“Ethics are integral to one’s professional skills. Professional competence without ethics is like a knife without a handle. Young Indians, whether in industry or in business schools, must be exposed to business ethics, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility,” Kumar said.
Asserting that the cancer of corruption has corroded every organ of public life, Kumar said there was a need to focus on the supply side of corruption—the offering of bribe.
“Corruption is said to increase inflation by diverting investments into unproductive areas. Corruption weans away domestic and foreign investments as companies find it difficult to do business in such an environment.”
“…While petty corruption has always been a part of our government since ancient times, it is the cases of grand corruption involving high public officials and huge monetary value which get highlighted in the media,” Kumar said.
He emphasised upon change in value system to uproot corruption from the society.
“While institutional and regulatory measures are essential to curb corruption, it is equally important that these measures are supplemented by change in our value systems.
“Corruption after all is a form of human behaviour, which reflects social values. Corruption would end only if our society imbibes ethical values. School and family play a very important role in this regard,” the CVC said.
Kumar said that ethics should become an integral part of work culture and people’s lives.
“Organisations should promote an ethical work culture in their workplace and it is the top leadership which has to set the tone,” he said
The probity watchdog has also recommended the teaching of ethics as part of school curriculum as is the practice in several developing countries.
The Commission also emphasised on the use of technology and e-governance as the most potent weapon in the fight against corruption.
“The Commission has been persuading organisations to adopt measures like e-procurement, e-billing, e-payment and IT enabling of various public services. Keeping surveillance through CCTV is also very useful in keeping a check on corrupt and unauthorised activities,” he added. (PTI)
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