Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday launched 'Project Zero Vigilance Whistle', an initiative of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau aimed at eradicating corruption through active public participation.
According to him, the project was conceptualised following the wide acceptance and success of the government's anti-narcotics campaign, 'Operation Toofan'.
Noted Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly, who volunteered to become the first 'Vigilance Commando', also administered an oath to the youth gathered at the Loyola School auditorium here.
Inaugurating the initiative, Chennithala said the project would take action not only against corrupt public officials but also against those who offer bribes.
"We will review all the files in which officials accepted bribes and facilitated illegal actions, and we will revise the decisions taken on those files," the minister said.
He urged the youth to rally behind the project and become whistleblowers against corruption. He said government officials must also report corruption, as they are often the first to witness wrongdoing by their colleagues.
Chennithala said the definition of corruption includes not only accepting money but also causing unnecessary delays and forcing people to plead for services to which they are legally entitled.
"We will take action in all such cases, and the vigilance force will be equipped to meet these challenges," the Minister said.
He added that the present government had revised the vigilance manual to ensure that only fit and willing personnel are posted to the department.
Earlier, he said, personnel who were neither physically fit nor willing to perform policing duties were often transferred to the vigilance department.
"Now, postings to the vigilance department will follow a strict selection process. Only those who are willing and eligible to serve in the vigilance department will be posted after undergoing a test," Chennithala said.
Nivin Pauly recalled how his police inspector character in the film 'Action Hero Biju', stood for justice and public welfare, and expressed hope that corruption in society would also come to an end in real life.
"I consider Project Zero to be a very serious initiative and one that both you and I have long wanted in our society. We all want our society to be free from corruption," he said.
Nivin also said denying opportunities to the underprivileged and to young people who lack money should also be viewed as corruption.
"We need to eliminate the situation where people believe that, despite having all the qualifications and eligibility, they cannot achieve what they deserve unless they have money and influence," he said.
He added that today's youth question everything, demand evidence and seek accountability. Therefore, he said, young people would rally behind the project to expose corruption.
Later, speaking to the media, Chennithala said a case has been registered against T G Mohandas, a right-wing commentator, for allegedly posting violent remarks against the NEET protesters.
"I handed over the complaint against him to our Cyber Crime Wing IG, and an FIR has now been registered. Appropriate action will be taken after the investigation," he said.
On the alleged custodial death in Kundara, Kollam, where a man died after being released from police custody, Chennithala said he had sought a detailed enquiry report from the DGP and that further action would be taken after the report was received.