Lokayukta dissatisfied over inaction on mining report

Addressing the media at an event organised by “Tata Tea Campaign on International Anti-Corruption” on Tuesday, Hegde said the Government repeatedly said it had taken action, but nothing had been done. Yet another report could be submitted before January, he said.

He flagged off the “Tata Tea Jaago Re Vrath Yatra,” a 38-day bus journey across the country to connect with the youth and urge them to pledge themselves against corruption. The Vrath Yatra, which starts on December 9 will travel from Bangalore to Kolkata via Mumbai and Delhi, touching a total of 12 cities on the way.

Justice Hegde lamented that conviction rate was much lower than 20 per cent in corruption cases. Shadow witnesses, who accompany the complainants, connive with accused and turn hostile during cross-examinations. Despite suggestion for departmental action against them, nothing much has been done, he regretted.

Sangeeta Talwar, Executive Director, Tata Tea Limited said: “In 2009, Tata Tea migrated the Jaago Re campaign from voting to address what is the single largest malaise hampering the future of our nation - Corruption.  It has the power to pin us down and root us to where we are, severely hampering entrepreneurial activity, denying economic opportunity and limiting prosperity.”

On the occasion, Tata Tea relaunched its website www.jaagore.com which was synonymous with voting applications since its launch last year. The relaunched jaagore.com will be a portal which facilitates the flow of information and resources between individuals, groups and organisations. It aims to bring together, onto a common platform, those who possess info and resources and those who need them.