Terming corruption as a matter of serious concern, President APJ Abdul Kalam on Thursday favoured the setting up of an independent commission comprising officials from various government agencies for the strict enforcement of stringent laws to counter the menace.
"Corruption is the concern of our society, our youth, of course the government also. I believe a mission mode approach in elimination of corruption is essential. I am going to advocate (this) to my government," Kalam said during his speech and a question-answer session at CBI's 16th biennial conference of Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Bureaus of the country.
"The system can have convergence of all agencies to take decisions and execute (them). The idea only struck me a few days ago and I am working on it," he said.
Kalam said the idea came to him when he was surfing the internet to find a corrution-free country. "I got the information through internet about Hong Kong's experience."
"Hong Kong, 40 years back, has been described as though it was what we witnessed in many areas in the Indian scene. But today, Hong Kong is free from corruption. I was told that this has (happened) through their one action of establishing a powerful independent commission against corruption."
"The independent commission worked on a three-pronged approach by strict enforcement of stringent laws, prevention of corruption and community participation against corruption through continuous education. This has resulted in virtual elimination of corruption in less than 10 years," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"The independent commission worked on a three-pronged approach by strict enforcement of stringent laws, prevention of corruption and community participation against corruption through continuous education. This has resulted in virtual elimination of corruption in less than 10 years," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Kalam said he was studying this example and its suitability for application in the Indian environment.