Youth in Social Action:
A Need for a State Wide Youth Campaign on “Ensuring Culture of Transparency in Colleges and Universities”
Gobinda Ballava Dalai, YDF
socialgobinda@gmail.com
The power of youth is the power of the State. This is true for Odisha where the youth, with their immense capability and limitless energy, can bring about developmental change in the state. It is high time for the youth to change their mindset to actively participate in shaping the future, for themselves and for their own land which is endowed with rich natural resources like mineral deposits, forest, plentiful surface, long coast line and picturesque tourist potentials. The State can no longer afford to represent a paradoxical picture of poverty among plenty. Thus, social action is an imperative to bring in sustainable and long term changes in the region.
Paulo Freire, famous sociologist and philosopher, suggests a process where people ‘not as recipients, but as knowing subjects, achieve a deepening awareness both of the socio-cultural reality which shapes their lives and their capacity to transform that reality. Understanding the position of the oppressed in the context of social and economic structure they live in is one of the vital components of social action.
The specific need of the hour is as follows—
• Promote youth civic engagement — especially in the areas of governance, rural development, state laws, national legislation and international issues;
• Convince community, educational and government leaders to engage young people in meaningful roles and the decision-making process;
• Share best practices and resources through our free e-newsletter, books and training manuals which highlight trends and promising practices;
• Serve as a network, connecting like-minded individuals who are tackling similar youth empowerment and public policy issues in India and internationally.
• Provide Youth Helpline to young people to help them transform their ideas into proposals and be taken seriously by the powers-that-be;
1. Why Sensitization on Right to Information and Governance
The potential that RTI has in transforming the governance is a well established truth. In fact, incidences of change are being reported every day. Harsh Mander and Abha Joshi observed in their article ‘The Movement for Right to Information in India, People’s Power for the Control of Corruption’ that in the quest for systemic answers to this chronic malaise of corruption, it is important to identify its source inherent within the character of the state machine. These include a determined denial of transparency, accessibility and accountability, cumbersome and confusing procedures, proliferation of mindless controls, and poor commitment at all levels to real results of public welfare. Ultimately the most effective systemic check on corruption would be where the citizen herself or himself has the right to take the initiative to seek information from the state and thereby to enforce transparency and accountability.
It is in this context that the movement for right to information is so important. This is because it would secure the enforceable right to question, examine, audit, review and assess government acts and decisions, to ensure that these are consistent with the principles of public interest, probity and justice. It would promote openness, transparency and accountability in administration, by making government more open to continuing public scrutiny.
Along with RTI, a range of development issues ranging from environment, sustainable development models, young citizenry and strengthening of grassroot democracy are needed to be sensitized upon.
2. Why Among Students in Colleges and Universities
As per the database, as on date there are 15 universities, 106 Engineering Colleges, More than 50 management colleges, 29 law colleges, huge number of general undergraduate and +2 colleges, group of institutions, social work colleges, Pharmacy and medical colleges and Technical Training Institutes.
There are lakhs and lakhs of students studying in these institutions and hopeful to fulfil their aspirations and become an active citizen of this country. However, they have always been sub servile and unaware of the functioning of their colleges or institutions. Leaving aside lack of transparency, the students don’t get their basic rights and victimised by a money making institutions least bothered about the academic and professional needs of the students.
This creates a lose-lose situation which benefits neither colleges (which was supposed to instil right spirit among the students to be an active citizen) nor the students (who learn the skills and knowhows to lead their life in Chalta Hai understanding.
As the students are expected to be the change agents by being the part of civil society organizations and media, it is imperative that they should be sufficiently sensitized to arm themselves with this tool for effecting positive change. So it is our duty to facilitate the sensitization among such critical group who are expected to work in the development sector.
3. Expected Outcomes
• Transparency in campus governance.
• Enhanced knowledge among the upcoming development professionals on RTI and related development issues.
• Capacity building of professionals intended to take up development interventions.
• Bringing RTI and Governance issues into the university curriculum.
• Creating a favourable environment for advocacy for RTI sensitization programme in the universities.
• Citizen Handbook on Campus Governance will be prepared by students.
This is in this backdrop, Youth Collective, Odisha-a forum started by Youth Development Foundation in association with LYF has launched a state wide youth campaign in colleges and universities to develop a culture of transparency in the very institutions that prepare the young generation to be the torch bearers of the society. The future of the country needs our time, energy and devotion to build a sustainable and prosperous society based on the principle of freedom and liberty. Let’s give them their due.
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