To ensure transparency, SJVN switches to total e-procurement

By: Ravinder Makhaik

SJVN Holds Panel Discussion On Vigilance Awareness

Shimla: Pitching for rooting out corruption from public life, SJVN – the mini-Ratna power generating company, conducted a panel discussion over ‘Role of vigilance in PSUs’ at the start of observing a vigilance awareness week ahead.

Initiating the discussion, KC Sadyal, chief vigilance officer at SJVN said that corruption was widespread phenomena in the country’s economy.

“To bring about transparency into workings of government undertakings, the central vigilance commission has been emphasizing upon e-governance,” said Sadyal.

About measure taken at SJVN, he disclosed the organization had switched to complete e-procurement within eight months, ahead of the schedule marked by CVC.

As a thrust on transparency and efficiency e-evaluation of the tender documents would be gradually implemented in the corporation, he said.

Participating in the discussion, SR Mardi, IG Vigilance HP Police lamented that the value system in the country had eroded a lot over a period of time.

“Enforcement agencies at times fail to act against corruption because of lack of support from the people. Actually, the people tend to accept corruption as a normal activity,” said Mardi.

Pointing out various incidences of public tolerance to corruption, the police officer said, “under corruption the country will never prosper.”

As newer technologies penetrate the system, several types of corrupt practices could be rooted out, he added.

Speaking about functioning of SJVN, HK Sharma, CMD of the corporation said as work schedules were bound by time frames, emphasis on following rules and guidelines were adhered to at the public sector undertaking.

Transparency in SJVN’s working had been achieved in most areas and its activities were monitored at various by several agencies, said Sharma.

Sharing the experience at HP Power Corporation Ltd, Tarun Kapoor, CMD said, “it is not only in evaluating and awarding a work but also in getting it executed that laxity of acceptance takes place.”

He said that despite rules and regulations corruption was rampant in many departments.

“Rules alone cannot contain corruption and a major cause of perpetuating corruption in society was the publics’ tolerance as there was no social contempt of corrupt people,” said Kapoor.

RS Katoch, Director (Personnel) SJVN held that level of corruption is PSU’s was not high as these organizations were governed by a host of rules and were also monitored by various agencies.

“Contribution made by PSUs in the national economy should be recognized for a generalized allegation of corruption in the PSUs tends to severely affect the pride of its officers. Public sector was a major source of building country’s economy and infrastructure,” said Katoch.

SL Sharma, Director (RICA) said it was moral integrity that helped in containing corrupt practices.

Economy was based on a development process in which the value systems pursue wealth as a goal of life. Under such conditions role of PSUs was more challenging than government departments, he said.