Anti-corruption drive ‘Project Zero’ launched in Kerala

Launching the ‘Project Zero’, an anti-corruption initiative by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) at the Loyola School here on Wednesday, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that the project is aimed at catching not just bribe takers, but those giving bribes too. He said that the government will have a relook at files which are found to have been cleared through bribes. Illegal orders obtained through bribes will be withdrawn, he said.

He expressed hope that Operation Zero will also garner wide support from the public, just like the Operation Toofan anti-drug drive. “Corruption means not just the taking of bribes, but delaying decisions on various files too. Government servants should take the effort to dispose of files at the earliest. Services to the public should not be seen acts of generosity from the government but the rightful entitlement of the people. The VACB has prepared Operation Zero with a lot of planning with the sole aim of rooting out corruption from Kerala. The government will also provide incentives to whistle-blowers,” said Mr.Chennithala.

He said that the government has taken the initiative to revise the Vigilance manual after 30 years. As part of this, the practice of treating the Vigilance department as a dumping ground will come to an end. The recent Vigilance checks in local bodies, which yielded ₹50 lakh in unaccounted cash, has got major public support, he said.

Actor Nivin Pauly, who administered an anti-corruption pledge to the students said Operation Zero is the kind of movement that he has been waiting for a long time to happen. “A situation in which people are losing opportunities despite studying well because others are gaining these using money and power can also be considered as corruption. It will create a feeling that there is no incentive to pursue anything honestly. This movement will hopefully help change such perceptions,” he said.