THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In studies of voluntary organizations, despite being a state with low levels of corruption and bribery in the country, Kerala is becoming a state where bribes should be given for anything and everything.

Corruption is most prevalent in the revenue, police, local government, forest, and food safety departments. Vigilance arrests corrupt people from time to time but corruption cannot be curtailed. The reason is that there is nothing but enforcing good conduct and suspension for those who commit corruption. The Chief Minister suggested that vigilance should be exercised with the realization that corruption is a criminal crime that has more social repercussions than any other crime. The Chief Minister pointed out that the people should be made aware of how corruption has affected the political, social and administrative spheres and that even not giving the due benefit on time is corruption. But it is often political backing that helps the corrupt.

The rule now is that cases and investigations cannot be made without the prior permission of the appointing authority. Vigilance cannot file a case even if it gets information about serious corruption. According to the amendment passed by the Parliament, the permission of the higher authority is required to file a case against the administrators, the people's representatives and the officials. Vigilance cannot move without the permission of the Chief Minister or the Governor. Vigilance now has no significant work to do other than catch bribes in government offices. Vigilance headquarters has become a post office for sending complaints to the government. All these complaints will be consumed by the fire in the rubbish bin of the secretariat.

Vigilance cases

2013-151

2014-142

2015-297

2016-338

2017-151

2018-91

2019-76

2020-82

62% - Penalty rate in vigilance cases

764- Government officials arrested during the last government

Bribery

Offense punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment

10 departments where corruption is prevalent

1. Local Government

2. Revenue

3. Public Works

4. Health

5. Transportation

6. General education

7. Police

8. Water resources

9. Food and Civil Supplies

10. Excise