Students turn anti-corruption champions

Keeping in tune with the anti-corruption drive of the central government, school students have been asked to turn into messengers of ethics and help curb corruption.

The Central Vigilance Commission has asked schools affiliated with the Council of Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to form integrity clubs to sensitise students to curb corruption and rekindle moral values in them. As part of the club, students can take up various activities, including visits to local government offices, residential societies, and encourage people to shun bribes.

After a successful pilot of such clubs in a Kendriya Vidyalaya in New Delhi, now both the boards have asked all their affiliated schools to start the clubs for students from Std VI to IX.

Gerry Arathoon, additional secretary and officiating chief executive and secretary of CISCE, said, “We informed the schools on Wednesday to start the clubs.  Members of the vigilance advisory council believe that to eradicate corruption and inculcate moral values in students some initiatives should be taken in the form of co-curricular activities. The move is also aimed at countering the negative impact of television, internet and mobile phones on students.”

A senior CBSE official said, “Schools are advised to introduce integrity clubs as community groups for cultivating human values among students, by organising games, activities and workshops.”

City schools are happy with the idea; many of them have already started taking steps towards it. Principal of Rajhans Vidyalaya, Andheri, Deepshikha Srivastava said her school has tried to make the topic of corruption "relevant" for students. "Children often feel disconnected with bureaucratic corruption as they might not have encountered it personally. Hence, we are trying to make them understand that even cheating in exams is a form of corruption, as is borrowing notes from a classmate and not returning them," she said.

Sudeshna Chatterjee, principal of Jamnabai Narsee School, Juhu, said, "We have been organising debates on the Lokpal Bill and corruption throughout the year. We even held a group discussion on corruption and Anna Hazare's movement."

Anti-corruption rallies, special assemblies to discuss the Lokpal Bill, essays on whether the means of protest taken up by Anna Hazare were appropriate are some of the other activities that city schools are planning to introduce as part of these clubs.