Vittal now wants to be genetic engineer to cure corruption

Vittal now wants to be genetic engineer to cure corruption
SWATI CHATURVEDI

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 7: In a move that has all the secretaries to the Government in splits the Central Vigilance Commissioner N Vittal has asked them to ``genetically modify officials serving in their departments to fight corruption''.

And, before you think that volunteering for medical procedures will soon be a part of the civil services conduct rules Vittal in a two-page memo sent on July 26 makes it clear that he will be the genetic engineer. The recipients of the memo are still in a daze since the CVC appears to be deadly earnest.

The memo starts off on a solemn note saying: ``the recent announcement made by American and British scientists about the decoding of the human genome have opened up the possibilities of gene therapy in future. It is possible to identify the specific which causes a disease like say diabetes, and then target the treatment at gene level''.

Launching in to his main idea the CVC then says ``when it comes to corruption, we are facing the problem of the public servant using his position for private profit''. The CVC then says generously ``that not all public servants are corrupt. Some departments have got a very bad reputation in fact I had suggested that black money in this country is a standing monument of the inefficiency or corruption of four departments of the GOI''.

Vittal then goes on to list the departments. These are ``Income Tax, Customs, Excise and Enforcement Directorate''.

Vittal then advises how the gene therapy can be applied to tackle corruption in government. As a first step he wants all sensitive and non-sensitive posts to be identified. After this all the secretaries must follow the rule that nobody will hold a sensitive post for more two to three years with Vittal being an obvious exception.

Vittal claims some success in already achieving this ``vital first step in gene therapy.''. He says ``that the general perception is that in sensitive posts only those bureaucrats are posted who the powers that be want to be posted there''.

To avoid the possibilities of the bad eggs or corrupt elements in the bureaucracy and politics coming together, Vittal wants around 5000 sensitive posts in the GOI to be identified and and a neutral committee set up to suggest a panel of names for these posts. It is only from this panel the government should appoint persons for sensitive posts. Once appointed the official will be in position for two to three years and will not be disturbed..

Vittal says that this sort of systematic identification of sensitive posts and their ``neutralisation would amount to a gene therapy in the sense that at least the corrupt genes in bureaucracy would not get in to sensitive posts where they could multiply their activities and make the entire system corrupt.''

Vittal then goes on to list the third method of applying gene therapy which according to him is to ``mobilise the supply side aspect of corruption''. The CVC has written to CII, FICCI, and ASSOCHAM on this. Then Vittal promises that under the powers vested in his office he will modify rules and procedures which lead to bribery.

The final aspect of the gene therapy according to Vittal is to ``continually increase the supply of good genes over bad genes. This involves declaring ``whole offices corruption free zones.'' Vittal feels that corrupt elements will avoid getting posted to such offices and a sense of pride will be operate among the employees.

Vittal ends his missive with the hope that Parliament will pass the CVC bill ``which is not delayed for 30 years like the much talked about and much hyped Lokpal bill.''.