Since taking office, CM Mann has introduced a helpline number for reporting corrupt officials, which has yielded significant results.
Chandigarh: The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has initiated a robust campaign to eradicate corruption in the state, adopting a 'zero tolerance' policy towards corrupt practices. The government has pledged strict action against any officer or employee found engaging in corrupt activities.
Since taking office, Chief Minister Mann has introduced a helpline number for reporting corrupt officials, which has yielded significant results. The helpline number 8184900002 is designated for complaints related to the Revenue Department, while NRIs can register grievances regarding the same department at 9464100168. These numbers are exclusively for written complaints.
The anti-corruption policy has positively impacted the state’s finances, with the Punjab government witnessing a 26 percent increase in revenue from land and property registries in August 2024 compared to August 2023. The revenue from stamps and registration reached Rs 440.92 crore in August 2024, up from Rs 349.26 crore in the previous year.
The state government is also taking stringent measures against policemen who accept bribes and collaborate with drug dealers, instilling a sense of fear among corrupt officials. With the aid of technology, tehsildars will now closely monitor the work and performance of the revenue department. Additionally, high-tech integrated surveillance cameras have been installed in tehsils to enhance oversight.
In its intensified campaign against power theft, the government registered 296 FIRs in anti-power theft police stations in August alone. Furthermore, 38 employees have been dismissed for corruption-related offenses, including 37 outsourced meter readers and one supervisor. The state government has issued a stern warning to power thieves to cease their activities and regularize their electricity connections, emphasizing that power theft severely drains the state's finances. The PSPCL’s distribution and enforcement wings have effectively checked connections and detected thefts, with a total of 81,262 connections tested, resulting in fines of approximately Rs 13.30 crore imposed on offenders.
Chief Minister Mann has expressed that any delays in obtaining records for vigilance investigations or approvals for prosecuting corrupt employees are hindrances to this public interest campaign. He has ordered that these approvals be expedited without delay.
The Punjab government has also transitioned many services online to reduce opportunities for bribery and recommendations. This shift aims to alleviate the problems citizens face in accessing services and curb corruption. Residents can now visit the Punjab government website [https://jamabandi.punjab.gov.in](https://jamabandi.punjab.gov.in) to order property records online, with a nominal government fee of Rs 20 for services at the office. For convenience, an additional fee is applied for ordering records through email or for addresses outside the state, ensuring prompt delivery within 3 to 7 working days.
