The actions ofPunjab Government have started to bear fruits now. It is learned that since theCM issued helpline number 9501200200 against corruption on 23rdMarch to mark Martyr’s day, around 1 lac 60 thousand complaints have beenregistered through Audio or Video massages making it about 23000 per day orabout 16 per minute. Out of these complaints almost half relate to either foodand supplies department or Revenue Department.
With Mohalias the Headquarters, Punjab has been divided into seven zones for this service.Any complaint lodged will be received by Mohali Headquarters and then forwardedto the concerned range. Then the matter will be verified and investigatedthoroughly and FIR will be registered. The seven ranges are:
1. Mohali-Ropar
2. Amritsar
3. Jalandhar
4. Ludhiana
5. Patiala
6. Ferozepur
7. Bathinda
The culprits found would be charged under section 7 of the Prevention ofCorruption act 1988 amended 2018 and section 120-B of IPC and will result in 7 years imprisonment and afine.
Everything is fine up to now! But wait a minute!
Let us come to the real point. How many FIR,s have been registered sofar under this department? You will be surprised to know just 2! One was registeredagainst a clerk in the revenue department in Jalandhar for a cash-for-job scam and CMsir himself informed the Public of this FIR. And the second one was registered onMonday against Police personnel including an ASI for asking for a bribe forrecovery of funds misappropriated.
The question arises is this the failure of the system or are the majority ofthe complaints of non-serious nature? It Can be a mix of both I think.
This Helpline number is a very good initiative by Punjab Government andmust be used wisely. I would request CM Bhagwant Mann to look into the matter andrevamp the system to expedite the inquiry and verification process as also thePublic, in general, to forward only serious complaints so that our problems canbe attended to quickly and in a smooth manner.