HYDERABAD: Speakers at 'A corruption-free education system and the role of Right to Information (RTI) Act', a discussion held under the aegis of students and alumni of NIT-Warangal (NIT-W) here on Sunday stressed the need for a 'systematised approach' rather than a 'confrontational agenda' to address the problem of corruption.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Nutan Thakur, an RTI activist and a writer, encouraged youth to use the Act to effectively root out corruption. She also shared her experiences on utilisng the RTI Act.
The programme began with the RTI anthem 'Jaanne ka haq hai' followed by an introduction to Asthra, an initiative taken up by the students and alumni of NIT-W in 2005, which guides students on the use of RTI in academia. Rakesh Dubbudu, one of the founders of Asthra said the aim of the initiative was not to disturb the academic rigour but to encourage students to question the system.
The forum also highlighted how Asthra helped in taking action against corrupt officials of NIT-W like the former director Dr Y V Rao, who was removed from his post for involvement in a huge scam. Asthra also helps students in keeping a tab on the use of funds sanctioned to the NIT, Rakesh said.
However, V. V Laxminarayana, joint director of the CBI and an alumnus of NIT-W, warned that exaggerating problems would bring disrepute to the institution. "We should try to be a part of the solution and request authorities to upload relevant information on the respective websites to minimise the need for filling applications of RTI," he said.
Amitabh Thakur, president of the National RTI Forum, said corruption was prevalent since long and that it can be checked by refusal by people to be a part of the scheme. "All of us are a part of the system and being reasonably vigilant will go a long way in rooting out corruption.” He also suggested that students should be made a part of the syllabus drafting committee and the management council of colleges for addressing students' grievances. The forum concluded with an open forum for students from different colleges including JNTU, CBIT and Osmania Medical College, who aired their problems and discussed how RTI can help address their issues. The students were guided by members of Asthra and other RTI activists in directing their complaints.