BANGALORE, FEB 27: Chief Vigilance Commissioner, N Vittal, said today the CVC (Chief Vigilance Commission) is examining whether the 589 Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs), who are in different departments, can be given the police powers so that they can arrange traps for the corrupt people.``If this is possible legally, then the citizens and the civil society organisations can approach the CVOs and get the trapping done'', Vittal said in his talk on `Eradicating Corruption: Role of Civil Society' here, organised by Consumer Rights Education and Awareness Trust.Vittal said that he is also examining the possibility whether CVC should empower retired officers and ex-servicemen and make them honorary vigilance advisers, at the rate of ten or 20 per taluka in the country.They could be given some ID cards and empowered to visit government organisations and bring acts of corruption to the notice of authorities and guide the youth who could be organised in various colleges in the form of National Vigilance Corps, he explained.``The idea is to combine the forces of experienced officers and the energy of youth so that a countervailing force against corruption in the country can be created'', Vittal said.Vittal also said he has written to the 60 departments of the Union Government who have come out with a citizen's charter to say whether they can add a condition that the various services which are promised by the departments will be given corruption-free.If this is accepted and it is displayed in every office that the citizen is entitled to corruption free service then the empowerment of the public will become greater and the civil society organisation can then organise systematic attempts at ensuring that this is done, he said.The CVC, he said, is following a three-point strategy - simplification of rules and procedures so that the corruption does not flourish due to red-tape and complicated rules, transparency and empowering the public and effective punishment.Vittal lashed out against those who were critical of him for coming out with list of officials facing corruption charges, likening them to ``brotherhood of corrupt''.``Whether they want to check corruption.. or they want to check CVC. why is there anxiety'', he asked.The CVC asserted that he is not vouching for publicity. Neither he is exceeding his powers, Vittal said.
