ONLINE REGISTRATION OF CORRUPTION COMPLAINTS: Punjab launches portal

Chandigarh, October 31, 2012: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today stepped up its drive against corruption by launching a special portal and toll free number to enable public to register their complaints of corruption online or through toll free number.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal while launching the portal and toll free number described it as a biggest tool to involve the general public in this campaign against corruption.

The website has unique facility for uploading audio and video/footage and photos along with the online complaint.  This would help the vigilant public to videograph/photograph any corrupt activities being indulged by the public servants and upload the same on the Vigilance Bureau website so that bureau could take action against the guilty.

Stressing upon the need for launching multimedia campaign to sensitise people against corruption and educate them regarding new portal and toll free number, Badal said that these posters should be put up prominently in all offices where public dealing was involved. He also asked Arora to focus on electronic media by running a strip permanently on various channels giving out the website name and toll free number for the information of public.

The Deputy Chief Minister also released newly obtained Toll Free Number facility (1800-1800-1000) for the people of Punjab. Badal said that people can now register complaints on toll free number (1800-1800-1000) and provide details regarding any complaint or information. The concerned Vigilance Bureau officer will contact them to follow up the matter.

Suresh Arora, Chief Director Vigilance giving the salient features of portal said that the this was accessible from all kinds of gadgets like Mobile Phone, I-Pad, Desktop, Laptop etc. (W3C Complaint)  and would also provide an online NRI Help desk for NRI community. It would also have facility to lodge and check the status of a complaint online.

He said that the website provides all vital information about Vigilance Bureau such as officers posted, location of offices, official phone numbers and email id, list of Chief Vigilance Officers  of respective departments in a systematic and user friendly manner. The Photographs of P.Os/absconders has been displayed on the website, which will enable the people to give information regarding same. The Vigilance Bureau has written to all the government departments to provide link of its website on their websites.

 Arora informed that the Vigilance Bureau has taken new strides in the fight against corruption by launching awareness drives, creating Internal Vigilance Cell and Special Unit for checking its own staff etc. The Vigilance Bureau is also providing valuable suggestions to the government for procedural reforms essential for prevention of corruption.

He said that latest step in this series of initiatives is creation of official website of the Vigilance Bureau www.vigilancebureaupunjab.org.

Arora informed that Vigilance Bureau Punjab was also putting up information boards and banners at the important public places for publicising the website and the toll free number.  This will help in spreading awareness about the website of Vigilance Bureau, increase accessibility to the common public, provide an online platform for citizen interface & also improve the grievance redressal machinery. Vigilance Bureau solicits active co-operation and suggestions from the people of Punjab and also the NRIs settled abroad.

On this occasion the Deputy Chief Minister also has given token of appreciation to the team involved in development of website.  The team included H. S Rai, Dean Guru Nanak Engineering College, Pritpal Singh Consultant, Surya Kumar, Mukesh Kumar.

BK Bawa, Director Vigilance Bureau, Neerja IG/VB and D.P. Singh, Joint Director were also present on the occasion.