Anti-Graft Directorate Beset With Constraints, Moves For Grievance Redressal

Anti-Graft Directorate Beset With Constraints, Moves For Grievance Redressal

GUWAHATI: Officials of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam has been working under severe constraints. Informing this to the Assembly Committee, representatives of the Directorate have sought redressal of their professional issues at the earliest for better coordination and functioning of the directorate as a whole.

This has come to light in the report of the ‘Departmentally related standing committee on development (B) departments (Home)’ that was presented to the State Assembly recently.

Presently, though the Directorate has a sanctioned strength of 88 personnel, its actual strength is 78. This is despite the fact that it has “104 cases under investigation and 307 regular enquiries in progress”. However, it “lacks adequate infrastructure, manpower, transport and funds for carrying out the tasks effectively”.

The directorate officials stated that to make it more efficient and increase its reach, Zonal Offices with adequate manpower and infrastructure need to be set up at five places in the State namely Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Bongaigaon and Silchar.

The directorate representatives pointed out in their representation to the House that “there is no fixed tenure of officers posted to the directorate and transfers are frequent”, adding that it is adversely affecting the functioning of the officials concerned.

The representation further stated, “There is also lack of motivation and investigation experience among Enquiry Officers. Besides, there is also lack of Technical Experts, Accounts Officers and Law Officers.”

Stating that “conducting more number of traps will have a salutary effect on corrupt public servants”, the directorate officials added, “However, lack of manpower is a major constraint.”

Since May 25, 2016 to January 31, 2019, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam arrested 71 government servants involved in 54 cases.

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