Odisha Chief Minister Launches Anti-Corruption Facebook Page, Helpline

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday launched a dedicated helpline number and a Facebook page to report allegations of corruption or give feedback to the vigilance department.

The page will be a milestone in curbing corruption.

"The younger generation will be more involved now in the fight against corruption. In reporting bribery and corruption activities though the Facebook page, citizens can not only report crimes but also narrate positive experience," Patnaik said.

Besides, the information collected from the complaints can be periodically monitored to be made available to public to make them aware about specific corruption challenges, he said.

For those not having access to Internet, the toll-free helpline number 1064 will be at hand on all working days to lodge complaints and maintain anonymity too.

All calls received on this helpline will be registered and a complaint number will be given later, the Chief Minister said.

Stating that corruption adversely affects the economic development of a country and its development goals, Patnaik said, it triggers inefficiencies in utilization of resources and compromises quality.

"It is essential for a transparent and foolproof system is put in place which provides appropriate accountability at every level of hierarchy in public administration," Patnaik said.

Leveraging of technology in functioning of the government and its organisations can address the challenges of corruption to a large extent, Director of Vigilance, Odisha, K B Singh said.