Lokpal Bill ignores graft at state, local levels: Conference

A Round Table of eminent persons in Andhra Pradesh today unanimously recommended that the Union government provide for constitution of Lok Ayuktas in states and ombudsmen in districts as part of the Lokpal Bill.

The Round Table, conducted by the Foundation for Democratic Reforms and the Lok Satta organisation, constituted a nine-member steering committee to present the citizen's viewpoint to the Parliamentary Committee which will consider the Bill as also all political parties.

A release by Lok Satta, quoted Party President and MLA Jayaprakash Narayan as saying the Bill, in its present form, ignored corruption at the State and local levels.

States today account for bulk of corruption in the wake of economic liberalisation and devolution of powers. There are indeed Lok Ayuktas in some states. They have only cars, phones and peons to flaunt but have no powers to fight corruption," he said.

The meet felt the CBI and CVC at the national level and Anti-Corruption Bureaus and Vigilance Commissions in states should be strengthened and brought under the protective umbrella of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas respectively.

The participants felt that Chief Ministers should be brought under the purview of the anti-corruption mechanisms although they differed on including the Prime Minister, the release added.