LOK SABHA
Government is fully
alive to the need to root out corruption and to ensure transparency
in its dealings as far as possible. The Minister of State for
Home Shri Harin Pathak told the Lok Sabha in a written reply
that the Government has introduced checks and balances for bringing
accountability and ensuring efficiency in the administration.
The Secretary of each Department, assisted by the Chief Vigilance
Officer, has been made responsible for ensuring probity and
integrity in each Department. The Minister was replying to the
reference made by a member on a survey conducted by an NGO on
the extent of corruption prevalent in different departments
of the government.
Shri Pathak
said the Government has also taken several measures to ensure
transparency, such as setting up of 90 facilitation centers
as on 1.12.2002 in various Ministries/Departments/Organisations
to provide information and assistance to the public regarding
schemes and procedures of the organization concerned. Also 71
Central Government Organisations have published Citizen’s Charters
reflecting the commitment of the concerned Ministries, Departments
or Agencies to provide services within the timeframe specified.
Some Ministries and Departments have also developed their own
websites for promotion of e-governance. The Freedom of Information
Act, 2002 has also been enacted for ensuring greater transparency,
openness and accountability in the functioning of the public
authorities.