By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 24, 2017: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday asked officials to ensure strong implementation of zero tolerance policy against graft.

Presiding over a high level official meeting to discuss preventive measures to curb corruption in various social welfare schemes, Patnaik said that his government will not tolerate corruption at any situation.

In view of scores of media reports on rampant bribery and percentage cuts in government offices for the work done by contractors, the CM called upon the administration to ensure poor people not to be deprived of their rights due to corruption.

Patnaik also paid special focus on various housing schemes, Niramaya Yojana and other welfate programmes for the poor. It was also decided in the meeting to create awareness among all the panchayat representatives, government officials in the blocks on the consequence of corruption.

The committees comprising of vigilance officers will be formed in blocks, districts and state level to curb corruption in the government offices. The block and district committees will monitor the transparency in development and welfare programmes by making field visit if required. The committees will submit the report to the vigilance headquarters about execution of various welfare schemes by convening meetings on regular basis. After verifying the reports, the vigilance department will submit the report to the concerned departments.

Patnaik directed to constitute an Oversight Committee headed by chief secretary in state to monitor anti-graft programmes.

The vigilance department has received 560 complaints so far in rural housing sector, 197 complaints have been verified and complaints have been registered in 38 cases. After the vigilance launched toll free numbers on July 20, total 289 complaints have been received so far.