The state government has constituted an advisory body, Commission on People’s Empowerment (COPE), with former Central Vigilance Commissioner N Vittal as its chairman. The commission will focus on controlling corruption in government services and advice the government in simplifying laws, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu told reporters here on Wednesday.
According to Naidu, the COPE would also make recommendations for effective implementation of people-centred administrative reforms in the state. “Anyone can approach COPE on matters of corruption,” he said, pointing out that the government would certainly take action on the commission’s recommendations.
MCR HRD institute director P V R K Prasad, Visakhapatnam Port Trust chairman S R Rao, Centre for Good Governance executive director P K Mohanty, Indian School of Business dean Vijay Mahajan, McKinsey & Company principal Pramath Sinha, and Infosys Leadership Institute director G K Jayaram are the members of the COPE, while secretary (coordination) J C Mohanty will act as its member-secretary.
The commission will have its first meeting in Hyderabad on Thursday, and it will meet periodically. The COPE members can visit any place in the state and are empowered to make independent enquiries on allegations of corruption and suggest methods to the government on effective disposal of public grievances.