Gandhinagar: Moving beyond a one-week anti-corruption awareness exercise, Gujarat govt will keep its vigilance machinery on “alert mode” for three months to identify and plug systemic loopholes that can enable corruption.The preventive vigilance campaign will run from Sept 10 to Dec 9, with Vigilance Awareness Week to be observed from Oct 31 to Nov 6 under the theme “Probity for Prosperity”, an official statement said on Thursday. The initiative will cover govt departments, boards and corporations, public sector undertakings and local authorities.The key thrust will be on preventing corruption by identifying vulnerabilities in govt processes before they translate into violations, the statement said. Gujarat Vigilance Commission, ACB and other departments will review procedures and push technology-based systems to reduce scope for malpractice.The statement said that govt procurement will be a major focus area as the industries and mines department will organise workshops for MSMEs and vendors, while a “Satark Supplier, Strong Gujarat” initiative will promote awareness of procurement rules. More than 500 officials are slated to be trained under the exercise.The campaign will also target emerging risks, with the home department, police and NFSU conducting training on cybersecurity and cyber hygiene. Officials handling infrastructure projects will be trained in contract management, audit, accounts and updated PWD procedures. The state also plans to introduce more data-driven vigilance. In collaboration with IIT Gandhinagar, “Predictive Vigilance for Infrastructure” will use data analytics and digital tools for risk mapping.Govt said that revenue and finance department officials will receive training in ethics, conflict of interest, disciplinary procedures, forensic accounting and fraud investigation. Officials will also be sensitised to RTI, citizen charters, time-bound services, data protection, cyberfraud and responsible use of AI. Govt will simultaneously push digitisation of public services, strengthen grievance redressal and review govt assets and lease arrangements.
