Kolkata: In a virtual address to the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to eradicating corruption. He emphasised that the nation maintains a rigorous policy of zero tolerance towards corrupt practises.
“India has a strict policy of zero tolerance against corruption,” PM Modi said. He highlighted the integration of technology and e-governance to foster a transparent and accountable system.
Drawing inspiration from the writings of Tagore, he cautioned against the pitfalls of greed, which can obscure the truth. He also referenced the ancient Indian Upanishads, advocating for the principle of ‘Ma Gridha’, which translates to ‘let there be no greed’.
PM Modi articulated that the highest consequences of corruption are borne by the underprivileged and marginalized sections of society. He elaborated that corruption adversely affects resource allocation, distorts market dynamics, hampers service delivery, and ultimately degrades the quality of life for people.
Citing insights from Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the Prime Minister affirmed the government’s obligation to optimise state resources for the welfare of its citizens. He emphasised the moral duty of the government to combat corruption as an integral means to this end.
Addressing the gaps in welfare programmes and government initiatives, PM Modi stated that these leaks are being effectively sealed.
“Hundreds of million people in India have received direct benefit transfers into their bank accounts, amounting to more than 360 billion dollars and helping save over 33 billion dollars,” he added.
“Our government e-Marketplace, or GeM portal, has brought greater transparency in government procurement,” he added.
Speaking about the enactment of the Economic Offenders Act in 2018, PM Modi said that the government is aggressively pursuing economic offenders and informed about the recovery of assets worth over 1.8 billion dollars from economic offenders and fugitives. He also spoke about the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which has helped attach the assets of offenders worth more than USD 12 billion since 2014.
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