Discussion on Transparency and Role of RTI in Educational Institutions Held June 19, 2011, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha

A discussion on "Transparency and Role of RTI in Educational Institutions" at Bhubaneswar has been organised by YDF in association with LYF, New Delhi. The discussion was organised in the wake of initiating a state wide youth campaign in Odisha to bring transparency and accountability in the Higher Educational Institutions. As the Chief speaker of the event, Sri Jagadananda, State Information Commissioner described this effort as the beginning of a new movement in the state involving college youth to ensure transparency and accountability in their immediate surrounding i.e College/ University. He stressed that this effort has the potential to create thousands of active citizens in the state which can question the opaque system. He appealed the students to use RTI as a tool to expose the misdeeds and malpractices in the system leading to a cultural evolution of Questioning authority thereby bringing openness and transparency in the system. He urged the students to start RTI clinics and aware peers and common mass to use this powerful tool. He urged state level RTI awareness campaign among college students and assured to support the same. Sri Sudarsan Das, Secretary, HDF shared his experiences as a student leader during his college days and described how students who try to blow whistle are victimised. He appealed the students who are trying to take this transparency movement ahead not to be discouraged by the system. He stressed on the need of Educational Institutes to be transparent and accountable. Rajan Singh, National Programs Coordinator threw light on how youth with little efforts can bring in transparency in their colleges and surrounding. He shared the dilapidated condition of facilities provided to students in colleges and universities and the corruption involved in the different educational institutions across the country. He discussed about the need of pro active disclosure of accounts and other documents mandated by Section 4B of the RTI act by the

college administration. He also stressed on the issue of transparency and accountability among different students bodies and student union .He floated the idea of Transparency Partner where different student bodies will be asked to make their accounts public before common students and a group of active members of the campaign will ensure this. Gobinda Dalai, Secretary of Youth Development Foundation declared that efforts will be concentrated to have a state level campaign on the issue of Transparency in Educational institutions mobilising youth at a larger level. He emphasised on the need of creating a platform where youth can take up this issue and contribute directly in bringing transparency and change. He announced that talk will be initiated with RTI coalition, which is active in 25 districts of the state to partner in carving out a plan of action by mid of July and execute it. Mr Madhusudan Das, the Chairman of Youth Development Foundation suggested immediate meetings of all Vice Chancellors of the State Universities, state officials and State information commission on this issue. He appealed the students to join this movement. He also declared that work will be started on Pilot basis with 10 campuses soon. Speaking on occasion, Mohammed Imran Ali of NMYS shared his experience on the recent youth campaign against Drug Abuse and reflected on the critical issues around campus governance. He stressed upon the importance of exemplary youth leadership to give right kind of direction for such a massive campaign. More than 50 participants involving college students, civil society members and social activists participated in the discussion.

-Rajan Kumar Singh Pratigya 09304172151 rajan@pratigya.in www.pratigya.in