Reforms panel okays agency similar to CBI

Thiruvananthapuram: The State Administrative Reforms Commission has accepted recommendations on constituting state vigilance commission on the lines of central vigilance commission and an independent investigation agency like CBI. Briefing reporters here on Monday, its chairman V. S. Achuthanandan said an expert committee had prepared the draft. The report would be submitted to the government by next month. The two agencies are aimed at making the state machinery and administrative setup transparent and corruption free.

The commission decided to conduct a detailed study on some of the contemporary issues. Increasing atrocities on women, inadequate facilities for waste disposal, challenges in the health sector and the limitations of Right to Service Act would be taken up on priority. Mr Achuthanandan said issues like atrocities on women and inadequate facilities for waste disposal were directly related to the people and were being widely discussed in the public domain.

Things had come to such a pass that not a day went by without news about these issues appearing in the media. He said more issues would be taken into consideration and the commission is examining the ways to seek public opinion on them. The discussions happening on the social networking sites, write-ups and inputs from media persons would be utilised for this purpose. The commission felt that through administrative reforms the seriousness of many problems could be reduced. Mr Achuthanandan said departmental committees had been constituted and the process of initiating changes was underway.

A workshop of the members of department committees concerned would be held soon.Key recommendations Statutory powers for proposed three-member State Vigilance Commission with sitting High Court judge or retired judge as chairman. Other members to be officials who have held the posts of the chief secretary or additional chief secretary, DGP or ADGP. Putting in place an effective system to book corrupt officials, irrespective of their ranks. Check frivolous and false complaints intended to tarnish the image of honest officials.