Jan Lokpal Bill: Jairam Ramesh proposes new bill to address corruption at lowest level of the administration
"The Lokpal Bill seeks to addresses corruption cases at top level. The bill I am suggesting is to address such cases at lowest level," Ramesh said.
By ET Bureau | Updated:
NEW DELHI: Union minister Jairam Ramesh has proposed a new bill that will address cases of corruption at the lowest level of the administration, hoping it will satisfy those opposed to the Lok Pal Bill introduced by the government.
Touting it as a Public Services Grievance Redressal Bill, Ramesh said that the bill would be directed to ensure legal right of beneficiaries to all government services and entitlements. "It's a standalone legislation which I am suggesting. This bill will aim to ensure grievances of people at the lowest, cutting edge level are addressed," said the minister for rural development.
The first draft of the proposed bill, which will be up put for public comments by the end of this week, will potentially bring cases of corruption or non-delivery of government services like the Public Distribution System, pension schemes, unemployment allowance and other such services under legal scanner.
"The Lokpal Bill seeks to addresses corruption cases at the top level. The bill I am suggesting is to address such cases and complaints at the lowest level," Ramesh added.
One of the contentious demands of the Jan Lokpal Bill proposed by Anna Hazare is that it also seeks to include corruption cases from the lowest to the highest level in the ambit of the anti-corruption law.
Clarifying that he has not been asked by the government to draft the law, Ramesh said that he is working on the draft bill drawing his experience of implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme ( MGNREGA).
MGNREGA, the UPA government's largest rural employment programme, is a legal entitlement which has a system of accountability in place to address discrepancies through financial and social audits.
"Drawing my experience from MGNREGA, we are trying to see of we can have a legislation to address corruption at various levels…It can also be a part of the Lokpal Bill," Ramesh added.
Stating that the government has been unfairly criticised as being insensitive to corruption issue, Ramesh said that the idea of a grievance Redressal bill is a result of extensive discussion on ways to address corruption in the Cabinet.
Touting it as a Public Services Grievance Redressal Bill, Ramesh said that the bill would be directed to ensure legal right of beneficiaries to all government services and entitlements. "It's a standalone legislation which I am suggesting. This bill will aim to ensure grievances of people at the lowest, cutting edge level are addressed," said the minister for rural development.
The first draft of the proposed bill, which will be up put for public comments by the end of this week, will potentially bring cases of corruption or non-delivery of government services like the Public Distribution System, pension schemes, unemployment allowance and other such services under legal scanner.
"The Lokpal Bill seeks to addresses corruption cases at the top level. The bill I am suggesting is to address such cases and complaints at the lowest level," Ramesh added.
One of the contentious demands of the Jan Lokpal Bill proposed by Anna Hazare is that it also seeks to include corruption cases from the lowest to the highest level in the ambit of the anti-corruption law.
Clarifying that he has not been asked by the government to draft the law, Ramesh said that he is working on the draft bill drawing his experience of implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme ( MGNREGA).
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MGNREGA, the UPA government's largest rural employment programme, is a legal entitlement which has a system of accountability in place to address discrepancies through financial and social audits.
"Drawing my experience from MGNREGA, we are trying to see of we can have a legislation to address corruption at various levels…It can also be a part of the Lokpal Bill," Ramesh added.
Stating that the government has been unfairly criticised as being insensitive to corruption issue, Ramesh said that the idea of a grievance Redressal bill is a result of extensive discussion on ways to address corruption in the Cabinet.
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