Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced that a state vigilance academy would soon be set up in Odisha capital.
“It will help the officers to upgrade knowledge and skills on a continuous basis so as to retain the professional edge,” he said while addressing an event to mark the beginning of the Vigilance Awareness Week.
After administrating the pledge, the Chief Minister said that anti-corruption and transparency are the two key elements to ensure probity and accountability in public sphere. “It has also been the firm resolve of my government to eradicate corruption in implementation of welfare and development schemes,” he said.
Naveen said that there has been a 4 per cent rise in the conviction rate of vigilance cases in the first 10 months of this calendar year, compared to the previous two years.
“My government has taken a series of measures to improve the investigative capacity and the prosecution system of the State Vigilance,” he said.
The Chief Minister appealed the state people to join the fight against corruption and build a better society for the future generation.
He also gave away the prizes to best division and winners of school and college-level debate competition.
“I am glad that the Vigilance Awareness Week is being observed throughout the state on the theme ‘Eradicate Corruption-Build a New India’ in a befitting manner involving all stake holders and all sections of the society, especially the students and the youth,” he added.
Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and Vigilance Director Dr Debashis Panigrahi also spoke on the occasion.