Vigilance to promote whistle blowers

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau will target zero tolerance to corruption within three years through a basket of creative measures and methods.

These will include nurturing of bold whistle blowers in all departments and offer them protection. The Department has already roped in NGOs in its fight against corruption.

In a circular issued last month, Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas directed all units, officers and staff to identify, nurture and develop whistle blowers in departments, public sector units, universities and boards and form whistle blower groups and networks.

“Each unit may also develop innovative methods to empower and motivate whistle blowers in each department, as methods for each department or region may vary,” the Director said.

There is also the plan to reward whistle blowers through awards, extra increments, incentives and public appreciation besides protecting them from harassment. The idea is to create the impression that ‘it pays to expose corruption’ rather than ‘it costs to expose corruption’.

The circular notes that those who dare to speak or write or stand up against corruption, face several challenges such as harassment, memos, transfer, victimisation, humiliation, career-blocking, cases, vigilance enquiries, suspension and side-lining. So, a step by step process was to be adopted for creating and nurturing whistle blowers.

The Department proposes to form coalitions of honest and competent officers starting with two or three whistle blowers in each district, department and public sector unit and gradually increase their number to 15 to 20 by December this year. It will maintain a register of whistle blowers, form WhatsApp group of whistle blowers and maintain links with ant-corruption NGOs, social works and the media. Whistle blowers will be protected against transfer and harassment.