First in country, State Vigilance Academy inaugurated in Odisha

Odisha on Wednesday become the first state in the country to have an academy for the training of its personnel engaged in anti-corruption investigations, a state government official said.

The State Vigilance Academy, which has been built for this purpose, was inaugurated by Chief Secretary A P Padhi here. "State Vigilance Academy will be the first anti-corruption training academy for any state and Odisha will have the distinction of being a pioneer in the field," Padhi said after inaugurating the academy.

Director, Vigilance, Debasis Panigrahi said the anti-corruption processes and procedures need to be constantly updated with an infusion of the latest technology and scientific aids in order to keep pace with changing times and increasing sophistication in the nature of commission of economic offences.

The academy is intended to bridge a critical gap in this area, he said adding that since the nature of Police Station work and Vigilance work are very different, there is need of a thorough, meticulous and specialized anti-corruption training to the officers to equip them with the knowledge of latest laws and judgements on anti-corruption and allied subjects.

This apart, the academy will hold training of IPS, OPS probationers, Carded Sub-Inspectors, regular internship programmes of law students, during Vigilance attachment, Panigrahi said. Padhi emphasized on the need of training to shape the career of Vigilance Officers.

He proposed that Chief Vigilance Officers of all departments of government be sensitized and trained to become aware of economic offences and understand forensic auditing. AK Tripathy, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department and RP Sharma, DGP, also attended the function. On the occasion, A Coffee table book of Vigilance Organisation was launched by Padhi.