Whistleblower Protection Policy approved

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet on Thursday gave in-principle approval for formulating a policy for the protection of whistleblowers. The Cabinet also discussed and gave in-principle approval for implementing the proposed Right to Services Act in the state.A four-member committee has been appointed to prepare a detailed project for formulating the whistleblower protection policy on the lines of the policy of the Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC), Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters  after the Cabinet meeting.He said members of the public as well as government employees who act as informants on corruption will be given total protection under the policy."Credibility of the information provided and secrecy will be given paramount importance in the policy,’’ he said.The whistleblower protection policy was listed in the 100-day action plan of the Chandy Government. The draft of the proposed Right to Services Act was discussed in the Cabinet and approved. What all services are to be included in the Act as well as other details would be finalised after discussions with the service organisations, he said.“The Act is meant to provide government services efficiently to the public. It will be enforced by taking government employees into confidence,’’ he said.FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL PRE-AUDITThe Cabinet  also, in principle, agreed to conduct financial and social pre-audit for all projects above Rs 250 crore. The financial and social pre-audit for mega projects will be conducted by the State Planning Board, the Chief Minister said. This was another project listed in the 100-day action plan and was meant to ensure transparency, planned resource spending and social gain from big projects.NEW POSTSEach of the 148 police stations in the Janamaithri community policing programme will get five additional posts of civil police officers. The Cabinet has sanctioned 740 posts in all. Of the five posts in each station, one will be a woman civil police officer, the Chief Minister said.