The Tamil Nadu government has initiated a new campaign to enhance transparency in public administration by instructing various government entities to prominently display anti-bribery notice boards. These boards will emphasize that both giving and accepting bribes are punishable offenses. Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar signed a Government Order on July 14, mandating the installation of bilingual notice boards in Tamil and English at visible locations within government offices.
The directive also requires departments to publish the same anti-corruption message on their official websites, including a direct link to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) portal. Despite previous instructions dating back to 2006, many offices have not fully complied with the requirement, either failing to install anti-corruption boards or placing them in inconspicuous areas.
To ensure consistent implementation of the directive, the latest order aims to enforce uniformity across all government establishments. The notice boards will feature the message, “Bribe giving and receiving is an offence,” and provide contact details for the DVAC, such as address, telephone numbers, WhatsApp number, fax number, and official email ID.
In a bid to facilitate public reporting of corruption incidents, the government anticipates that easy access to these details will encourage citizens to report malpractices without hindrance. Departments are also instructed to extend similar directives to all entities under their administrative purview, including statutory boards, corporations, local bodies, government companies, and public sector undertakings.
Officials have been tasked with promptly ensuring compliance with the instructions. Inspection wings of various departments and inspection cells under district collectorates will oversee the installation of boards and full compliance with government directives in all offices. Department secretaries and heads are required to submit compliance reports to the Human Resources Management Department after confirming adherence to the instructions.
This recent initiative follows the launch of a dedicated DVAC WhatsApp helpline, 9498180936, by the state government. The helpline aims to streamline corruption reporting for citizens and bolster the government’s endeavors to promote transparency and accountability in public administration.
