Director Jacob Thomas sets a Vigilance plan
Arising Kerala', an interactive mobile app for anti-corruption action, is also being introduced.
KOCHI: With a view to achieve zero tolerance to corruption in three years, Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas has issued a circular to colleagues in his department warning on the nature of frauds happening now and the frauds that are ahead, while setting a role for honest NGOs and National Service Scheme (NSS) in the fight against corruption.
The Vigilance Director also envisages a whistle blower promoting programme. Under it, 25 whistle blowers who expose corruption of more than Rs 1 crore with very relevant and convincing evidence will be given reward/awards annually. This may be done district-wise also.
‘Arising Kerala’, an interactive mobile app for anti-corruption action, is also being introduced. Through sharing video visuals and audios of corruption among a large number of people, deterrence to corruption is expected to be developed, Mr Thomas feels.
The VACB had started collecting intelligence on frauds and based on past data the possible frauds going on now are assessed and a projection is made about the future frauds possible on account of technological innovation, gullibility of people, past successes by fraudsters, loopholes in anti-fraud laws, high tolerance to corruption in the culture, prevalence of unaccounted money and the culture of extolling some of the successful not-caught-in-the-act fraudsters by certain stakeholders.
The present frauds identified are related to deposits, gold schemes, health, project share, Visa, foreign recruitment, job, college admission, impersonation, TV serial /film/photo shoot, NGO, trafficking, cyber and marriage /relationship, call centres, credit card and debit card, donation, gambling, auction, child benefit, corporate, pyramid, psychic, online, chitty, loan, lottery and others.
The future possible frauds to be vigilant about include cyber, app-based, fashion, anti-aging, publishing, spiritual, dating and relationship, asset misappropriation, holiday club, intellectual property, land banking, miracle health, online shopping, phishing, plastic card, prize draw and slimming cures.
and work from home scams.
The Vigilance Director has made it clear that only credible, honest, capable and contributing registered NGOs that are active in anti-corruption domain will be involved in the vigilance initiative against corruption. Meetings will be held with college or district or university level NSS co-ordinators for the same.