Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Ambika Soni on Wednesday wondered why Team Anna was holding repeated demonstrations and fasts, again and again on one issue. Speaking to newsmen, Mrs. Soni said, the government is already working on the issue of corruption and a strong Lokpal Bill. She said, the Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha while in the Rajya Sabha, it was referred to a select committee due to several suggestions. Reacting to Team Anna's agitation at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, Mrs. Soni said, Team Anna's demonstration seemed to be a futile exercise and the people have understood the gimmick.
Union Minister Salman Khurshid said, Team Anna were raising issues which have been rejected by the Supreme Court and if they did not have any faith in it, they could approach the United Nations. He was replying to a question on Team Anna's demand for instituting an independent probe against 15 Union Ministers against whom they had leveled certain allegations.
AIR Correspondent reports, the UPA Government has taken several measures to tackle the menace of corruption. Following the two reports submitted by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Anti corruption set up in January last year, the Government has directed that requests for sanction of prosecution are to be decided upon by the competent authority within a period of three months. It was also decided that the Minister-in-charge will be the competent authority for initiating enquiry or investigation against all officers of the central government above the rank of Joint Secretary. The Government has also accepted that the recommendation of the GoM to put in place regulatory parameters for exercise of discretionary powers by Ministers and to place them in public domain.
Other significant anti corruption initiatives taken by the government include a comprehensive ‘Lokpal and Lakayuktas Bill, 2011’ passed by the Lok Sabha this year. The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2011, passed by the Lok Sabha and presently with the Rajya Sabha ensures protection to whistle-blowers.
Following India's ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organizations Bill 2011′ was introduced in the Lok Sabha. A National e-Governance Plan was also approved by the Government to make all Government services accessible to the common man and ensure efficiency, transparency & reliability of such services at affordable costs. To ensure Transparency in Public Procurement Legislation, the Public Procurement Bill, 2012 has been approved by the Cabinet. The Bill seeks to regulate public procurement by all Ministries and Departments of the central government, Central Public Sector Enterprises and bodies controlled by the Central Government to ensure transparency, fair and equitable treatment of bidders, promoting competition and enhancing efficiency and economy in the procurement process.
To make Public Service Delivery, a right of citizens, the Right of Citizens for time-bound delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill’ was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 20th December 2011, and been referred to the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee. This Bill is intended to make the Citizens’ Charter statutory and to endow the public with the right to delivery of goods and services.
