Blow the whistle on corruption, says Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala administers an anti-corruption pledge after launching ‘Project Zero’ at the Kozhikode firing range level at the JDT Islam campus in Vellimadukunna on September 28, 2026. | Photo credit: K. Ragesh

Everyone should be ready to fearlessly blow the horn on corruption, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Monday (28 September 2026), saying government services are a right of citizens and people should not pay bribes to access them.

He was speaking after launching ‘Project Zero’, a Vigilance Commando program aimed at engaging the youth in the fight against corruption, at the Kozhikode level at the JDT Islam campus in Vellimadukunna.

Mr. Chennithala said that the government’s aim is to eliminate corruption from society and that Project Zero is a firm step towards creating a transparent and corruption-free Kerala. The government would adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, he added.

Mr. Chennithala also distributed campaign badges, released a video related to the program and delivered an anti-corruption pledge to the assembly. K. Jayanth, MLA presided over the function. District Collector MS Madhavikutty delivered the keynote address. Poet and writer Soman Kadaloor and actor Neeraj Madhav were the chief guests.

Among those present were Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) Manoj Abraham, District Superintendent of Police (Kozhikode City) AP Shoukathali, Superintendents of Police CM Devadas and Balakrishnan Nair, JDT Islamic Orphanage and Educational Institutions President PC Anwar and Secretary CA Arif. A dance production ‘Nerinte Chuvadukal’ and a play ‘Jeevithathin Vilang Theerthavar’ carrying an anti-corruption message were staged as part of the campaign.

As part of Project Zero, VACB officials said they will undertake a number of activities, including revising the Vigilance Manual, conducting training workshops for internal vigilance officers, deploying Vigilance Commandos and organizing awareness programs to promote transparency and integrity.

According to them, a toll-free number 1064 has already been established, where the public can report cases of corruption. Youths interested in joining the program could register as Vigilance Commandos through the website of the Vigilance department, they added.

Published – 28 Sep 2026 19:44 IST