Vigilance Awareness Week: Naveen administers integrity pledge to Govt. officers

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday administered ‘Integrity Pledge’ to the government officers of Odisha and others marking the commencement of Vigilance Awareness Week.

In a unique way, the integrity pledge was administered by the Chief Minister through Odisha State Wide Network (OSWAN) to all district and block headquarters officials and through live telecast by the Information & Public Relations department to members of the public, students of schools and colleges, members of self-help groups, panchayats, ASHA and Anganwadi workers

This mass pledge is expected to further strengthen the extent of awareness on a corruption-free society at every level.

The Chief Minister congratulated Odisha Vigilance as it comes among the top performing anti-corruption agencies in the country as revealed by the latest statistics from the National Crime Record Bureau.

He also expressed happiness that during last year, Odisha vigilance continued detecting disproportionate assets against senior public functionaries.

He also urged the Vigilance Department to take steps for infusion of technology and expansion of the multi-disciplinary character by roping in more professionals with domain expertise to aid effective detection of benami transactions, money laundering, corruption through digital transactions, investments in newer financial instruments like crypto-currencies.

Naveen also focused on Transparency of 5T Initiative undertaken by the Government with a view to achieve transformational goals in governance. He also appealed to the people of Odisha to renew their resolve to fight against corruption and usher in a corruption-free and a New Empowered Odisha.

Computer-based investigation and prosecution management system and Vigilance Division office new buildings at Balasore and Rourkela were inaugurated by the Chief Minister through Video Conferencing on the occasion.

Chairman of 5T & Nabin Odisha VK Pandian was present.

Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena said that implementing honesty and integrity in public life is already one of the main pillars of our state policy. Odisha has been at the forefront of the fight against corruption, he said.

It may be mentioned here that this year till date, Odisha Vigilance has registered 201 cases against 364 persons including 38 Group-A officers and 37 Group-B officers. Charge sheets have been filed in 198 cases against 486 persons including 42 Group-A and 31 Group-B officers.87 cases have ended in conviction against 115 accused persons. 27 public servants have been dismissed from service and pension of 14 retired Public Servants stopped following their conviction in vigilance cases.

Best Vigilance Division, Best Vigilance Unit, Best Investigating Officer (Men & Women) and best Public Prosecutor of the vigilance for the year,2022 were felicitated by the CM.