Ten days after the Aam Aadmi Party announced that it will set up a toll-free helpline on which people can lodge complaints if they are harassed for bribes, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday that the helpline will come into force soon.
He said the Vigilance Department, which will follow up on the complaints received, has only 11 inspectors presently, as opposed to the sanctioned strength of 30 inspectors. Mr. Kejriwal added that the Delhi Police Commissioner had assured the government that eight more inspectors will be assigned to the Department in two days.
An Assistant Commissioner of Police and seven inspectors have already been posted with the Anti-Corruption Branch, which is presently investigating 165 cases.
Sources in the Delhi Government said the helpline has been put in place and a list of volunteers prepared. These volunteers are being trained by experts on how to collate, segregate and channelise the grievances to the competent authority in various Departments. It is learnt that they will also assist the complainants in laying traps for government officials who demand bribes for getting the job done.
In a related development, Mr. Kejriwal said the draft Swaraj Bill will be ready in another 10 days and the process will be initiated to give it a legal shape.