DIMAPUR, Oct 28 - Nagaland Governor PB Acharya on Sunday described corruption as the loss of purity and called on the people to rededicate themselves to the cause of fighting corruption.
In his message on the eve of Vigilance Awareness Week to be observed in Nagaland along with rest of the country from Monday, Acharya noted that corruption has progressively increased and is now rampant in our society.
He said it has become a way of life, adding the society itself has accepted and embraced corruption. �No one questions the many that live beyond their means of income,� he stated.
The Governor said corruption in governance comes under many different guises like bribery, extortion, blackmail, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation of public fund, nepotism and cronyism, depriving people of constitutional and human rights.
The menace is threatening the economic development, ethical values and justice thereby destabilising the society by creating a social divide between the have and have-nots, he said.
�It is time for us to come together and reaffirm our commitment to promote vigilance concepts and to rededicate ourselves to the cause of fighting corruption. Corruption cannot significantly come down unless all stakeholders support and participate to eradicate corruption,� the Governor added.
In his message, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio asserted his government�s commitment to making all-out efforts to implement transparency and good governance initiatives in the fight against corruption and take steps to eradicate corruption.
Rio assured that the People�s Democratic Alliance Government in Nagaland will endeavour to bring out a comprehensive zero tolerance policy towards fighting corruption.
Stating that the government alone cannot make a corruption-free State, he said change will have to be powered by every citizen.
�Nevertheless, anti-corruption efforts cannot be successful without the active participation of all the stakeholders, especially the public at large. It is therefore imperative that the public should be made aware of the need for their involvement in such efforts,� the CM stated.
Rio called upon all citizens to join and actively participate in the movement to eradicate corruption and build a new India.