ACC recommends digitising database

Curbing Corruption in House AllotmentACC recommends digitising databaseAlso suggests making DGA jobs transferable? Sajjad Hossain  The Anti-Corruption Commission has suggested updating the database on house allotment to civil servants with complete information and making vacancies public through the Department of Government Accommodation website and notice-board announcement.

Investigating allegations of anomalies in allotting residences to government officials, the ACC has suggested that applications for accommodation be accepted online and allotments should maintain the serial number of the applications.

The anti-graft watchdog also recommends making jobs of all officials and staff members of the Housing Department transferable or ensuring regular reshuffle of their workplaces.

In its investigation, the ACC has found that the DGA has no information on the issuing dates for houses and the vacant houses while applications from aspirants do not bear any serial number.

It has prepared a seven-point recommendation for curbing widespread corruption in the

DGA in allotting accommodation facilities to civil servants and establishing transparency.

?Because there is no data on the houses and no register of aspirant applicants, some people have long been deprived of the government?s accommodation facility while some have acquired the privilege by unfair means,? said ACC Director-General Khandaker Md Aminur Rahman.

He told daily sun that both the DGA and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works have agreed on establishing discipline in the sector by streamlining the allotment procedure.

The recommendations, prepared by a committee comprising members of the ACC, the DGA and the ministry concerned, also include informing the applicants about the authority?s decision regarding allotment via online or mobile phone.

The ACC has also suggested relocating the DGA office from Bangladesh Secretariat so people can visit the office easily?at present, going inside the Secretariat compound requires one to have an accreditation card.

The other recommendations include appointing a panel of skilled lawyers for contesting cases for the DGA to reclaim abandoned houses and property, and forming monitoring teams of different ministries to ensure transparency of the entire allotment process.

The ACC also suggests setting up a helpdesk to resolve complaints and problems regarding house allotment.

According to the data provided by the DGA, there are 12,997 houses in the capital where 350,000 civil servants are currently working. The very small number of houses against a huge demand has mainly led to corruption in the allotment process, said an ACC official.

Source: daily-sun.com

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