ACB concludes vigilance awareness week, highlights corruption risks in power sector
Srinagar, Nov 1: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday concluded its week-long observance of Vigilance Awareness Week 2025, themed “Vigilance: Our Shared Responsibility,” with a series of awareness programmes focused on the Power Development Department and its transmission and distribution corporations.
Emphasising that the power sector is both revenue-intensive and highly public-facing, the ACB underlined the need for sustained vigilance to curb corruption. Officials stressed that vigilance must extend beyond punitive measures, seeking instead to embed a culture of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct across governance and public service.
Awareness events were organised across Jammu and Kashmir, including at the J&K Small Scale Industries Development Corporation and SIDCO in Jammu, district offices in Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Udhampur and Poonch, and in Kashmir at IMPA Srinagar, Industrial Growth Centre Pulwama, and district offices in Ganderbal, Budgam, Kulgam, Anantnag and Tangmarg.
A documentary highlighting the ACB’s anti-corruption initiatives was screened at all venues, featuring messages from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and ACB Director Shakti Kumar Pathak, IPS. Their remarks reinforced the national commitment to promoting integrity and accountability within public institutions.
The district-level programmes, organised in coordination with the Power Development Department, witnessed active participation from senior officers, government functionaries, and members of the public. Presentations by ACB officials focused on identifying high-risk areas within the power sector—such as maintenance, distribution, and billing—and on the adoption of digital tools such as e-governance and e-procurement to minimise human discretion and reduce opportunities for corruption.
Interactive sessions held via a mobile application collected real-time feedback from participants on service delivery issues in the power sector, helping the Bureau to identify systemic weaknesses. Awareness material, including posters and leaflets, was distributed to familiarise participants with reporting mechanisms such as the *Satark Nagrik* app and the ACB’s official helpline.
Each event concluded with an Integrity Pledge administered by senior district and ACB officials, reaffirming collective responsibility in upholding transparency and ethical standards in public service.
The ACB officials extended their gratitude to participants and reiterated their appeal for continued public cooperation in promoting honesty and accountability in governance.
