Patna: The state govt will observe ‘Bihar Vigilance Awareness Week’ from July 2 to 8, marking a first-of-its-kind campaign to build public awareness against corruption and promote integrity in public life.The main programme will be organised on July 2 at Gyan Bhawan in Patna. Chief minister Samrat Choudhary, ministers, senior officials and govt employees are scheduled to attend the programme. Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) DG Jitendra Singh Gangwar said officials and employees across departments and at all levels would take a pledge to maintain honesty, transparency and accountability while working to eliminate corruption from the system.The programme will also include the first unveiling of the official logo of the VIB. Gangwar said the logo would give the bureau a distinct institutional identity nearly 79 years after Independence. During the week, the bureau will conduct several awareness activities, including plantation drives, lectures for constables, slogan-writing and poster-making competitions, and panel discussions on vigilance and anti-corruption practices.Gangwar said the vigilance department was created on July 2, 1946, as the anti-corruption branch to investigate corruption cases, mainly in the supply and bridge construction departments. It initially functioned under the cabinet department.The first vigilance police station in Bihar was set up in 1973. On Feb 26, 1981, the vigilance department, VIB and technical examiner cell were constituted as independent units.To enable confiscation of illegally acquired assets of corrupt public servants, the govt later enacted the Bihar Special Courts Act, 2009, and Bihar Special Courts Rules, 2010, for quicker legal action.
