JAMMU: In connection with Vigilance Awareness Week-2024, awareness programmes for the officers and officials of the education department of J&K were organized by Anti-Corruption Bureau J&K in collaboration with the School Education department at Jammu and Kashmir. The event at Srinagar was hosted at Auditorium Hall of IMPA Srinagar. Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education officers, Principals and Headmasters of all outstation districts of UT were connected through virtual mode. A Similar event was also organized at PWD Guest House, Jammu for Jammu based officers and officials of Education department.
The week-long campaign, themed "CULTURE OF INTEGRITY FOR THE NATION'S PROSPERITY," aims to enhance transparency, reinforce ethical governance, and combat corruption across the Union Territory. The teams of Anti Corruption Bureau interacted with the stake holders and threw light on the perils of corruption, how it affects every one of us and ruins economy of the Nation and how corruption obstructs the modernization and development of the country.
A key highlight of the program was the launch of documentary on the initiatives of J&K ACB, illustrating its Anti Corruption efforts and strategies for promoting accountability and Integrity. All the dignitaries and volunteers present in the programmes also took the pledge against Corruption. Sh Amit Verma, SSP ACB administered the pledge at Jammu whereas Sh Ayaz Ahmad Sheikh, SSP ACB administered pledge at Srinagar.
The programmes were designed to sensitize the stakeholders of the Education Department, especially targeted groups who are primarily tasked with spending of funds, distribution of scholarship, uniform, books, making procurements, maintaining day to day accounts of the expenditures of dept, running Gem portal and tendering process etc. Sensitize with regard to the lapses/ omissions/ commissions which create avenues for prospective corruption and suggestive remedies thereof. The ACB teams which includes officers from Accounts and Engineering Wing also explained to audience about how Citizens and Schools can help in the eradication of the menace of corruption.
Director School Education, Kashmir Sh Tassadaq Hussain was chief Guest on the occasion at Srinagar. He appreciated the efforts of the ACB in sensitising the general public and officers of the education department on various issues pertaining to procurement/works/service related matters and for presentation of detailed case studies based on probes conducted/ investigations launched by ACB against officers of the education department. He emphasised upon audience on following probity in public as well as private life and acting as role models for students and general public in following exemplary conduct. Ms. Subah Mehta, JKAS, Jt Director School Education, Jammu was chief guest at Jammu.
Professor Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Harvard trained acclaimed academic, former dean academic affairs, University of Kashmir was Guest of Honour at Srinagar. Prof Shabir has about thirty 37 years of teaching, research, and administrative experience to his credit, also highly appreciated efforts of the ACB. During the programmes, questionnaires were also served to the participants through mobile app and feedback was taken. The officers of School Education in their lecture deliberated upon the need to create a culture of transparency, accountability and integrity in order to make our country a corruption free society. They also encouraged the audience to stand the corruption with a bold voice.
