CVC's anti-corruption helpline flooded with calls

"There has been a tremendous response from the people. Our lines are flooded with calls throughout the day. The helpline is getting about 250-300 calls on an average everyday," a CVC official said.

Aggrieved persons can call on the toll free number 1800-11-0180 and on 011-24651000 exclusively set up by the anti-corruption watchdog to resolve their problems related to unnecessary lingering of work in any department due to demand for "undue favours" or "gratification" by public servants.

The helpline was started on October 25 and is operational from Monday to Friday between 10 am and 7 pm, the officer added.

"It's hardly been ten days since we started this service and the response is quite encouraging," he said. Giving details of the innovative approach, the official said, "anyone can call the helpline number and complain about the harassment or injustice being faced by him or her. He can directly be connected to the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the concerned department.

"The CVO would take all the details from the caller and check whether his problem is genuine or not. Accordingly, necessary action will be taken," he said. The primary aim behind setting up such a call centre is to help people in getting their work done without unnecessary hassles besides checking corruption, the official said.

"People can file complaints related to bribery and other problems being faced by them in all the Central Government-run ministries, other departments like Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and public sector units, among others," he said.

Complaints related to Delhi Government or its departments will not be resolved through the helpline or by the Commission since they do not come into its mandate.