Vigilance Awareness Week

Vigilance Awareness Week (VAW) is being celebrated every year during the last week of October. The celebration coincides with the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is known for his high integrity.

Vigilance Awareness Week is observed every year during the week in which the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31 October) falls. Observance of Vigilance Awareness Week is one of the tools used by the Commission to bring together all stakeholders to collectively participate in the prevention of, and the fight against corruption and to raise public awareness reg-:irding the existence, causes, and gravity of and the threat posed by corruption. During this week, all organizations are encouraged to bring together all their employees, create awareness regarding common issues related to vigilance and

create an atmosphere motivated towards weeding out corruption and unethical practices.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was an Indian barrister and statesman who served as the First Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1947 to 1950. He acted as the Home Minister during the political integration of India and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and played a vital role in the freedom struggle. He was often called "Sardar" which means "Chief" in Hindi.

The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue, was dedicated to Patel on 31 October 2018 and is approximately 182 metres (597 ft) in height.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) was introduced by the Government of India to be celebrated on 31 October every year.

Central Vigilance Commission

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an Indian governmental body set up in 1964, to prevent governmental corruption. It advises various authorities in central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing, and reforming their vigilance work. The Commission has two important posts i.e, a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners.

Nittoor Srinivasa Rau was appointed as the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India by K. Santhanam committee. Suresh N Patel is the present CVC.