From rxpgnews.com
Mayawati to administration: Don't tolerate corruption
By IANS,
May 19, 2007 - 9:29:39 PM
Lucknow, May 19 - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Saturday made it clear to senior bureaucrats and top police officials that she would not tolerate corruption in developmental works and lethargy in maintaining law and order.
Apart from district magistrates and superintendents of police from the state's 70 districts, all divisional commissioners, inspectors general of police and DIGs were among those present at the meeting that went on for four and a half hours without a break.
While giving a call for plugging pilferage of government funds earmarked for various development schemes, the new chief minister also prescribed 'severe punishment' for those found indulging in corrupt practices.
The chief minister declared her list of priorities, as well as her dos and don'ts for the officials.
'In dealing with law and order, you do not have to bother about consequences while ordering action against the culprits,' she told the officials.
'No matter the high and mighty connections, a mischief monger would be dealt with in the harshest manner,' she said, adding: 'Feel free to inform me about attempts by my own party leaders to exercise their undue influence.
'Criminals and antisocial element should no be allowed to get away under any circumstances. Wherever necessary, law enforcement authorities must invoke the strict laws including the National Security Act - against habitual offenders,' she told the gathering.
She also decided to put brakes on indiscriminate installation of statues at public places. 'No statue of anyone will be allowed to be installed anywhere in the state without an express permission of the chief minister,' she ruled.
Briefing media persons, Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said, 'Officers were also told in no uncertain terms to ensure a responsive attitude towards the public.
'The chief minister laid out a chart for the daily routine of all field officers dealing with law and order as well as development.'
Besides fixing a daily two-hour schedule for all district magistrates and superintendents of police for meeting common people, Mayawati has also prescribed days for their tehsil - visits.
Strict directives were given to ensure that sub-divisional magistrates operated only from their respective tehsils and not from their offices in the district headquarters.
Among the other major decisions announced at the meeting was a special development plan for 'Ambedkar villages' with a high Dalit population.
Mayawati also created two new integrated departments for urban as well as rural development.
A district magistrate, on condition of anonymity, said: 'Some of these directives were in place even during the previous regime, but none took it seriously. Today we know that the chief minister means business and no lapse on the part of anyone would be tolerated.'
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