But to publicise the new move the way it has been done, albeit with some tactless gusto, could only lead to alerting its likely targets to lie low and refrain from going about their usual business smelling danger in the air. The success of any such drive is basically dependent on an element of surprise and secrecy with which it is commenced in the first place, let alone how discreetly it is conducted on the whole. Making announcements in advance may prove self-defeating. What the drive needs is more bite than bark.

True, its periodic presence in the corruption-vulnerable places can have a deterrent effect to some extent; but given its shortage of resources including manpower is it in a position to spread its attention thin on different tasks without diverting from its mainstream function which is to investigate corruption cases on the dossier and help prepare prosecution against the corrupt?

But the idea of receiving complaints from people, assuring that their identities won't be revealed, is a good one. This is likely to put pressure on the dishonest officials as a channel of feedback from the people will be opened through this move.

At the end of the day, what the people want to see is tangible result. The ACC has already squandered time on internal conflicts and chasing files in the government pertaining to its organogram, absorption of the former BAC officials and the cases handed down to it by BAC to get the organisation going in a meaningful way. The government should take its share of blame, no doubt.

While we welcome the new signs of the ACC trying to get down to business, we cannot help but urge all concerned to ensure that the body is enabled to crack down on corruption in a manifestly effective way.