Token provision for Lokpal given to CVC in budget

NEW DELHI: The government today made a token provision of Rs two crore for anti-graft body Lokpal and gave a nominal increase of Rs 94 lakh to Rs 20.35 crore for Central Vigilance Commission ( CVC) in the interim budget.

CVC has been allocated Rs 20.35 crore under the non-plan head to meet its establishment-related expenditure during 2014-15, according to Demand of Grants of the Personnel Ministry.

CVC, which acts as the government's nodal agency to check corruption and ensure transparency, had been allocated Rs 21.29 crore in the revised budget for 2013-14 as against Rs 19.53 crore during 2012-13.

The provision of Rs two crore for Lokpal under the non-plan head has been made for meeting establishment-related expenditure. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, provides for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for the states to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

President Pranab Mukherjee had given his assent to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill on January 1, this year. The Bill was passed by Parliament in December last year.