IAS Manoj Ahuja Directs Departments to Bolster Internal Vigilance Mechanisms
In a decisive move to strengthen clean governance, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja (IAS, 1990 batch) has instructed all state government departments to ensure that officials with “doubtful integrity” are excluded from sensitive postings. Stressing the need to embed a culture of zero tolerance towards corruption, he called for comprehensive preventive vigilance measures across every level of administration.
Crackdown on Corruption: Letter to Senior Officials
In a directive issued to Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), District Collectors, and the Director General of Vigilance, Ahuja cited recent vigilance cases as a stark reminder of systemic vulnerabilities. He emphasized that punitive action alone is inadequate and that the system must be designed to prevent corruption before it occurs.
Internal Vigilance Committees to Be Constituted
All departments have been instructed to establish Internal Vigilance Committees (IVCs) tasked with:
Identifying sensitive functions prone to malpractice
Mapping areas of corruption vulnerability
Preparing short- and long-term action plans
These committees will reinforce internal checks and streamline processes to minimize the scope for misconduct.
Systemic Reforms Anchored in Technology
Referring to the Santhanam Committee recommendations, the Chief Secretary highlighted structural flaws, including:
Excessive discretionary powers
Monopoly in service delivery
Weak grievance redressal mechanisms
Low public awareness
Ineffective corruption detection systems
To tackle these issues, he urged departments to expand the use of technology-driven solutions, including:
E-tendering and e-procurement
Work Passbook and WAMIS
Ease of Doing Business portals
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) systems
Online HR and transfer management platforms
These tools, he noted, reduce human discretion, close operational loopholes, and improve transparency.
Staffing Transparency and Role Rotation
The directive also lays down strict staffing norms:
Officials with tainted service records must not be posted to positions involving finance, procurement, or direct public interface.
Departments must adopt transparent online transfer policies and ensure regular rotation of staff in high-risk roles.
Proven vigilance models implemented successfully in certain departments should be scaled up statewide.
From Reactive to Preventive Vigilance
Concluding his directive, Ahuja stressed that corruption cannot be eliminated by punitive deterrence alone. He called for a multi-dimensional approach—spanning administrative, legal, economic, social, and educational reforms—to build a governance ecosystem in Odisha that is resistant to corruption.
