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Journalism of Courage
In a bid to weed out corruption from the grassroots level,Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said he will bring the Right to Service Bill during the Budget session in February-March.
During election campaigns,Nitish had promised to deal with corruption with iron hands. The CMs mention of converting buildings of the corrupt into schools had invited loud cheers at public meetings,indicating how people were irked with corruption that started right from the level of gramsevaks,several of whom demand bribe for putting ones name under BPL list.
The government has asked bureaucrats to prepare a draft of the proposed bill that seeks to make it mandatory for the state government and its agencies to extend services to people within the stipulated timeframe failing which the officials concerned could be penalised.
The proposed Act,besides the RTI Act,will be an important tool in the hands of the people. We have been receiving numerous complaints regarding obtaining income tax and other kinds of certificates,depositing bills and other utility related services, said Nitish.
The Bihar Special Courts Act,2010,which allows the government to seize property of the accused during trial with courts permission,is already in place. The government has already initiated the process to confiscate the property of nine officials,including a former DGP,facing corruption charges.
Nitish said the proposed Act,which should come into effect by April,too,would fix accountability of government officials.
