UDF to bring lokayukta bill to check corruption

To demonstrate that Kerala is as much against corruption as the rest of India is, the new UDF government on Thursday unveiled a plan to check financial wrongdoing in the state.

To demonstrate that Kerala is as much against corruption as the rest of India is, the new UDF government on Thursday unveiled a plan to check financial wrongdoing in the state.

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To ensure greater transparency in governance, the new government will bring in a lokayukta bill on the lines of the lokpal bill, the provisions are being intensely debated by a 10-member committee in New Delhi.

All ministers, including the chief minister, and their family members will declare their wealth on the government site.

Announcing the government’s 100-day action plan, chief minister Oommen Chandy said transparency would be the mantra of his government. “Transparency is our catchword. We will ensure development with care,” he said at a public meeting attended by all his cabinet colleagues.

Now whistle-blowers will get special rewards. There will be a special cell to monitor their tip-offs and their identities will remain a secret.

From now on, all agreements and pacts the government signs will be published on the website. Similarly, enforcing the right to information will be easier as an applicant can make an online request for the details she or he seeks.

Some of the other important suggestions are the IIM Kozhikode will organise special workshops for ministers; there will be no leave for ministers in the first 100 days; and there will be an investment advisory council under the chief minister and a monitoring cell for goal-setting and planning.