Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) organized a meeting with the Independent External Monitors (IEMs) on September 4, 2010 in SAIL Corporate Office at New Delhi for reviewing the implementation of the ÔÇÿIntegrity PactÔÇÖ. Shri P Shankar, former Central Vigilance Commissioner, Shri Janki Ballabh, former Vigilance Commissioner and Shri A C Wadhawan, former Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board, who are empanelled by SAIL as IEMs for overseeing the compliance of the Integrity Pact, attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Shri CS Verma, Chairman, SAIL and also attended by Shri CB Paliwal, CVO, SAIL, the functional directors on SAIL Board and other senior officers.
While welcoming the IEMs to the review meeting, Shri Verma spoke about the performance of SAIL in recent months, the global steel scenario and the challenges before SAIL at this juncture. Various issues relating to the Integrity Pact in SAIL were discussed at length during the meeting and views of the IEMs were obtained. Shri Verma also mentioned that SAIL was privileged to have such eminent personalities as IEMs and had benefited immensely from the advice and guidance given by them. The IEMs appreciated the way the Integrity Pact is implemented in SAIL and observed that robust systems and procedures are in place in SAIL for dealing with procurements and contracts.
The Integrity Pact was adopted by SAIL w.e.f 16.8.2007, initially for all contracts valuing Rs.100 crores and above, and the threshold value has been progressively reduced to Rs.20 crores. SAIL was one of the pioneers in implementing Integrity Pact. In fact, the Integrity Pact of SAIL was taken as a model pact by the CVC, who advised other PSUs to make their Integrity Pacts based on the concept of SAIL.
The concept of the Integrity Pact was mooted by the Transparency International ÔÇô a global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption, and strongly advocated by the Central Vigilance Commission, the apex body for monitoring all vigilance activities under the Central Government. The Integrity Pact is an agreement between two parties ÔÇô the principal and the vendor, not to resort to corrupt practices and is aimed at ensuring transparency, equity and fairness and preventing corruption in public contracting.
All the organizations which adopt the Integrity Pact are required to appoint IEMs for independently and objectively examining complaints, if any, pertaining to the tenders where the Integrity Pact is applicable and giving advice for further course of action. Either of the parties to the pact can report suspected violations of the pact to the IEMs. Organizations are also required to review the implementation of the pact periodically with the IEMs.
SAIL organizes meeting of IEMs
Photo Caption- (from left to right) Shri A C Wadhawan, former Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board, Shri P Shankar, former Central Vigilance Commissioner, Shri CS Verma, Chairman, SAIL and Shri Janki Ballabh, former Vigilance Commissioner in the meeting
