THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As part of its efforts to unearth corruption, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) will identify potential whistle-blowers in government departments and organisations and nurture them. Vigilance director Jacob Thomas has directed all units of the VACB to identify, nurture and develop such whistle-blowers, including in public sector undertakings, universities and boards, and form whistle-blower groups and networks. A whistle-blower register has been also prescribed.
Incidentally, Mr. Thomas was the first officer from Kerala to get whistle-blower protection from the centre in 2007 after he exposed corruption in the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation while serving as its managing director. “The new initiative of VACB could be seen as an effective measure in unearthing corruption
as many have been refusing to speak up owing to lack of any protection,” said rights activist advocate D.B. Binu.
According to the recent circular of the Vigilance director in this regard, all units are directed to identify potential whistle-blowers by conducting organisation study and intelligence gathering. Whistle-blowers could be motivated by various methods, including demonstration of the harmful effects of corruption. Forming whistle- blower networks even on social media, offering protection against transfer and harassment and offering awards, public appreciation and incentives were the other measures suggested by the Vigilance director. He also suggested a mobile app to expose corruption and corruption mapping.
