Efforts to rein in corruption dismal

BY SONAL KELLOGG

NEW DELHI

Aug. 25: While the government has made it clear that it wants to tackle corruption and has introduced the RTI Act in 2005 to show its commitment, the facts don’t back the intention. The Anti-Corruption of Bureau in Maharashtra has filed only two FIRs since January 2006 pertaining to corruption, though they have received 480 complaints in the same period.

And Maharashtra is one of the better performing states in the country as far as corruption is concerned according to the Corruption Study 2007 conducted by Transparency India. Infact Transparency International has rated India consistently as one of the most corrupt countries with Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Uttar Pradesh listed as having alarming levels of corruption. But Maharashtra is among the better performing states along with Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Punjab.

But efforts to rein in corruption in this state are dismal going by their own replies in answer to an application under the RTI Act. The ACB of Maharashtra has only filed FIRs in two cases since January 2006 while the bureau has received 480 complaints between January 2006 and July 2008.

The ACB also stated that in 243 cases no action was taken and in 204 cases the complaint was referred to the government. The ACB of Maharashtra revealed that it had conducted preliminary inquiry in just seven cases and 24 cases were referred to other agencies.

RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi who had asked for the information said, "We often wonder why corruption is not checked or reduced. Now the reply under RTI indicates that most of the time the ACB was acting as a postman to pass on the complaints to the state and other authorities. In 2008, it has become wiser and decided not to take any action." The ACB received 163 cases in 2006, 275 cases in 2007 and 42 cases upto July 2008. In 2008, the bureau has not taken action in all 42 cases, it revealed.

The government understands the problem arising due to corruption.