New Delhi: The Delhi government on Wednesday announced that it would double the staff strength the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) and increase budgetary allocation to give more teeth to the anti-graft body.
The government will also re-launch the anti-corruption helpline - '1031'. It will be launched by the Chief Minister at a function at Talkatora stadium on April 5.
"Our aim is to strengthen the Anti Corruption Branch so we are doubling its strength. Now there will be 40 inspectors who will work in 40 teams at any point of time to investigate cases of corruption. We have also increased the number of other senior officers in the team," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
According to a senior government official, the anti-graft department was earlier functioning with 30 inspectors.
Besides increasing its staff strength, Delhi Government has directed to increase the budget allocation to the anti-graft wing.
"Earlier we had a budget of Rs 8 crore which we have increased to Rs 15 crore. We are training the officers to deal with the corruption cases in the city," Sisodia said.
"During our last term of 49-days, people of the city got significant relief from corruption and we believe that after April 5 we will be able to deliver the same," said Sisodia.
According to a senior officer, the Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC), an advisory body of the AAP government, will study global practises and define vision of ACB.
"DDC is advisory body which will conduct a study of successful and effective global practices and its implementation. DDC will also decide on over all structure and functioning of ACB," Sisodia said.
Anti-corruption helpline will officially start on April 5, one can still use it to report complaints as the government has begun a trial run of the helpline.
The helpline will be a revival of the service which the AAP government had launched during its short-lived 49-day stint in power after the Assembly Elections of 2013.
A dedicated helpline for reporting cases of corruption was one of the major promises made by AAP in its manifesto. According to the official, the helpline received over one lakh calls during AAP's previous term. Most of the complaints were against Delhi Police, the official said.
