Budget 2016: Token increase for Lokpal, Central Vigilance Commission

NEW DELHI: There has been a minor increase in the budgets for anti-corruption bodies Lokpal and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) with Rs 8.58 crore and Rs 27.68 crore respectively being earmarked for these for the next fiscal.

The grant of Rs 8.58 crore in the 2016-17 budget outlined by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today is for establishment and construction-related charged expenditure in respect of Lokpal.

The outlay for CVC is to meet its establishment-related expenditure, according to Demand of Grants of the Ministry of Personnel.

There is a hike of 19.49 per cent in the budget provision for Lokpal as against Rs 7.18 crore allocated to it for 2015-16.

The budget of CVC has also seen increase of about 14 per cent in its outlay for the current fiscal of Rs 24.26 crore.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, (also known as Lokpal) provides for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for the states to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

The government has not yet established Lokpal as an amendment bill in this regard is pending in Parliament.