Kerala Government Launches ‘Project Zero’ to Crack Down on Corruption

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday announced ‘Project Zero’, a comprehensive anti-corruption initiative aimed at eliminating corruption at all levels of government in the state through public participation and strengthened precautionary measures. Addressing reporters at the headquarters of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) here, the minister said that the government’s target is to transform Kerala into a completely corruption-free state.

“Let’s build a corruption-free Kerala together. We have zero tolerance for corruption. We want to eliminate corruption at all levels. This is the slogan of the government,” he said.

Chennithala said the initiative would enable people to get services from government departments without having to pay bribes.

“Currently, in many offices, even certificates are issued only after payment of bribes. This will definitely be prevented,” he said.

The minister said systems would be established for the public to report cases of corruption and assured that the identities of informants would be kept confidential.

He said authorities would maintain strict surveillance on corrupt officials and leaders and warned that no one involved in corruption would be spared.

Pointing out that cyber crimes and digital corruption are increasing, Chennithala said that strong measures will be taken to detect such centers and prevent technologically-based corruption practices.

He said the aim of the initiative is not only to take action on corruption after it occurs but also to prevent corruption at its source, with the VACB acting as a strong deterrent.

The Minister also announced that the 1969 Vigilance Manual will be revised to suit today’s requirements. He added that a draft of the revised guidelines has already been prepared and will be finalized soon after review.

He also said that the vigilance mechanism in the state will be strengthened and more entrapment cases will be recorded as part of intensified anti-corruption efforts.

“If the project gets enough support from the public, there will be a revolution in the state,” the minister added.