It is an open secret that publications of the Government departments do not catch the reader's eye for obvious reasons - slipshod presentation, boring issues repeated in the guise of novelty and same facts and figures. Although we cannot claim to have removed the various shortcomings, an attempt to do so has been made so as to make the Vigilance Bulletin presentable and readable.

The readers will be happy to note that, for the first time, we have also included some of the award winning essays, poems, short stories etc. submitted by staff and officers during the Vigilance Awareness Week . 2006. This also is not only an attempt to attract more and more readers to the Vigilance Bulletin but also more participants in the various competitions organized during the annual Vigilance Awareness Week. It is our sincere belief that once Railwaymen start devoting time and attention to vigilance related issues, they are more likely to avoid the pitfalls.

This issue as usual contains some important case studies of typical vigilance cases of the various departments. A two day SDGMs/ CVOs Workshop was also held in February, 2007 at Mumbai. During this Workshop, the General Manager, Central and Western Railways, Shri V.K. Kaul, also released the first every Hindi version of the revised Indian Railways Vigilance Manual . 2006. Some photographs of this Conference and also of the Vigilance Awareness Week . 2006 have also been incorporated. As you may be aware, the entire Vigilance Manual and the various Railway Board circulars are now in the public domain. They are available on Railway's website at http://10.1.10.21/vigilance/ and also on Internet at http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/vigilance/Home.htm. This is a step in making the working of the Vigilance Department more and more transparent.

There is always scope for betterment. Suggestions for improvement are always welcome and may be sent to the Advisor (Vigilance), Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), Rail Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001.