After 18 MP Districts Report Zero-Corruption, CM Shuts Down Corruption Ranking Programme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always maintained an intolerance towards corruption and has since through his campaign sent out strong messages such as "Na khaunga na khane dunga (Neither will I take bribe nor will let anyone take it)". However, none of this seemed to have had any effect on Madhya Pradesh.

The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has recently turned down taking part in his progressive "Corrupt districts ranking " programme, fearing a political and administrative backlash.

The state government had started the ranking of districts to make MP corruption free and in order to make collectors and superintendents of police accountable. But the officials in a sudden move seemed to have outwitted the government and have forced it to stop the ranking programme.

Bhopal and 17 other districts had recently reported zero corruption rate. Moreover, collators in some districts had reported that the field execution of most of the government schemes was excellent whereas the ground reality was exactly the opposite. Sensing the gravity of the matter, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan decided to put a lid on the programme.

Collectors fudged report

According to a source in the government administration department, collectors were not furnishing information according to the given format. Besides, it was being feared that the opposition party Congress perhaps would corner the government on the basis of these reports in the run-up to the assembly polls, scheduled to be held this year. 

This is the reason that just after two months the ranking system had to be shut. According to the source, the CM had announced a corrupt-free Madhya Pradesh while asking people of the state to take a pledge on the occasion of the state's foundation Day on November 1.  Based on this, it was decided to rank the districts.

Poor response

After the ranking system came into force, General Administration Department asked all districts to submit a report with regard to all cases concerning to corruption in the prescribed format. However, only six districts namely Bhopal, Datia, Dindori, Chhindwara, Seoni and Chhatarpur sent the necessary information. As a result, the ranking of districts on corruption hit a roadblock. When the department took the remaining collectors to task for not submitting graft details, the latter fudged reports by showing corruption free districts to claim the top spot.

Ranking basis

-Corruption cases in CM’s helpline

-Preliminary investigation filed in Lokayukta and EOW

-Raid and trap cases by Lokayukta and EOW

-Departmental inquiry in graft cases as per civil services rules

Journey of the programme so far

The ranking system idea was that of Chief Minister secretary B Chandrashekhar. He had drawn the format for getting corruption information from districts. He wanted to rein in collectors and superintendent of police but failed. Moreover, state’s Chief Secretary BP Singh had initially objected to the project.

Later, after some collectors responded zero corruption in their districts, principal secretary to the CM, Ashok Varanwal recommended that the ranking system is done away with. So, after two months of the report coming out, in which districts were ranked on corruption, the programme came to an end.