THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bribery mafia is sabotaging government services that people are supposed to get online. This is prevalent in local and self-governing departments. The vigilance investigation found that the ground is being set for this by refusing to issue the necessary certificates and insisting that the applications be submitted directly. This is often facilitated by deliberately compromising online systems. Poor quality of software also gives shade to bribery mafia.

Officials who take the position that they should be bribed for anything are getting political support as well. It is alleged that this is why there is no action.

The Revenue Department has 21 service web portals. The biggest fraud here is in land reclassification, land deeds, possession rights, title deed document copy, location certificate etc. and in the local department it is in building permits, tax, tax renewal etc.

Other than providing required data in services through web portals, other interactions are not easy for officials. Therefore bribery cannot be demanded for legitimate matters. That is why the online system is being sabotaged. Currently, 900 services are online in various departments.

Private agencies and retired officials

Vigilance had found that land reclassification involved a mafia consisting of private agencies and retired officials. Huge scams in the Food Safety Department had also come out the other day. Not all services are online in 1666 village offices. The Local Government Department has an Integrated Local Governance Management System but it is not full-fledged. The mafia is taking advantage of this.

There is punishment!

According to the Right to Service Act, which came into force in 2012, the service should be provided within three to 15 days after receiving the application. Officials have to pay a fine of Rs 500 for every day of delay. The punishment under the Prevention of Corruption Act is three to seven years in prison. There is also a penalty proportionate to the loss due to corruption.

Online service instructions

• Everything including money transactions should be made online.
• Software defects must be fixed within 24 hours.
• Internal vigilance should ensure timely delivery of services
• Rejection of applications should be known to the Head of Office.
• Action should be taken against undue delay.
• Middlemen should be avoided

Officials accused in bribery case in five years: 1028

Officers convicted in seven years: 234