Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau plans whistle-blower award

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) will institute  an annual whistle-blower award to motivate government employees and public to expose corruption.  The award will be presented on December 9  every year, which is observed as the international anti-corruption day. According to the VACB, it  will be presented to those who help expose corruption above Rs 1 crore and is mainly meant for  government/quasi-government institutions and teachers. But public workers, students, journalists or organisations that helped in exposing  corruption would also be considered once the corruption is proved. Vigilance units could also nominate whistle-blowers for the award.

Entries for the award should be emailed before December 1 to  jt.vacb@kerala.gov.in in a prescribed form which is available on the website www.vigilance.kerala.gov.in. The winners will get a citation and a cash award. The quantum of the cash award would depend of the eligible candidate, said Vigilance director Jacob Thomas.  “The award would be a motivation to those who expose corruption by facing the risks involved. Entries will be considered for the award only when the related case is charge-sheeted,” said the VACB statement.