NT NETWORK
MAPUSA
The Mapusa municipal council (MMC) wishes to become the first council in the country to get the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) 37001 certification for anti-bribery management.
The ISO is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organisations.
After being certified with 37001 certificate, an organisation can be referred to as a corruption-free body. Once an organisation is certified, then an anti-bribery management system is formulated and implemented in the organisation.
On Friday, the Mapusa municipal council unanimously resolved to achieve ISO certification in order to provide more transparent and better service to the people of the town. The council will appoint a consultant for the certification work by this month-end hoping to achieve the certification in the next three to four months’ time.
During an ordinary council meeting, a proposal was moved by the administrative section for obtaining the ISO certification. The council will apply for three categories: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and also ISO 37001, which will be launched across the world in September 2016.
Under the ISO 9001 certification, a council should have zero pending files and a quality system of functioning with time-bound delivery of various services. Under ISO 14001 certification, a council should have environment management wherein various activities like water harvesting, solar panels, sewerage plant, minimal waste of energy are taken care of. Under the ISO 37001 certification, if acquired, the council should have an anti-bribery management system in place which will make the council corruption-free.
To formulate an anti-bribery management system, a series of measures is necessary to help the organisation prevent, detect and address bribery. The measures include adopting an anti-bribery policy, appointing a person to oversee anti-bribery compliance, training, risk assessments and due diligence on projects and business associates, implementing financial and commercial controls and instituting reporting and investigation procedures.
Informing about the details of the ISO certification, chief officer of Mapusa municipality Clen Madeira said, “This is an attempt to provide better services to the people, as this certification has an international credibility. By this month, we will appoint a consultant, who will help us in obtaining these certifications.”
Madeira said, “The ISO 37001 code will be launched globally in September 2016. If we put in place the anti-bribery system quickly before other municipalities in India, then we will have a strong chance of becoming the country’s first municipality to be certified with ISO 37001. We want the MMC to be the first municipality in India to be certified with ISO 37001.”