Thiruvananthapuram, 26 May (H.S.): In a major push to eliminate corruption from the state administration, Kerala’s Home Department has announced a new initiative titled ‘Project Zero’, an ambitious anti-corruption programme aimed at making the state completely free of corrupt practices. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the campaign would rely heavily on public participation and encouraged citizens to directly report instances of corruption.
Speaking about the initiative, the minister asserted that no corrupt official or political leader would be spared from scrutiny. He stated that the Vigilance Department would continue conducting surprise inspections and maintain close surveillance over those suspected of corrupt activities. Chennithala stressed that ordinary citizens, especially the poor, should be able to access government services without being forced to pay bribes.
He urged people to move away from the culture of paying money to get things done and reminded the public that services and benefits offered by the government are not acts of generosity but citizens’ rightful entitlements. According to him, if people actively cooperate with the government in exposing corruption, Project Zero could become a transformative movement.
The Home Minister also pointed out that corruption is increasingly shifting into digital spaces, making detection and enforcement more complex. He said the government is developing strategies to effectively tackle digital corruption, while simultaneously focusing on preventive measures and awareness campaigns among the public. The broader objective, he said, is not only to identify corrupt practices but also to completely eradicate them from the system.
Chennithala further announced plans to revise the existing Vigilance Manual, stating that a draft for the proposed changes has already been prepared. The final version will be approved after examining recommendations submitted by the Vigilance chief. He also indicated that facilities and resources for officials would be strengthened.
The minister expressed concern over certain amendments to anti-corruption laws, stating that they had made investigations and legal proceedings more difficult. He emphasised the need for legal reforms and called for corruption cases to be disposed of more quickly.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
