Central Vigilance Commission seeks out of the box ideas to check corruption

NEW DELHI: The Central Vigilance Commission ( CVC) has sought out of the box ideas from all government departments to check corruption.

The suggestions will form part of a campaign followed every year through vigilance awareness week to raise awareness against graft.

The week has been observed every year since 2000.

In order to take forward the outreach and awareness activities during the vigilance awareness week this year, the commission would request all chief vigilance officers (CVOs) to give views or ideas on the theme and innovative activities for observing it, the CVC said in a communique.

The CVOs act as distant arm of the probity watchdog to check corruption.

As part of the programme, the commission had last year introduced the concept of integrity e-pledge--one for citizens and other for corporates.

Over 15 lakh citizens and 30,000 odd organisations have voluntarily taken the e-pledge committing to uphold the highest standard of honesty and integrity, and affirming to eradicate corruption.

The observance of vigilance awareness week is an outreach measure where the commission proactively reaches out all stakeholders whether government employees or public at large, who are encouraged to prevent and combat corruption.

The commission is of the considered view that corruption is a serious unethical practice that undermines trust and confidence in public officials and that public confidence can only be gained by promoting integrity in governance, it said.

Every year, several awareness programmes, activities are organised, like seminars, display of banners and posters at prominent places etc.

The theme of the vigilance awareness week 2015 was 'preventive vigilance as a tool of good governance'.

In 2016, the theme was 'public participation in promoting integrity and eradicating corruption'.