Student participants, judges and others during the inter-college extempore speech competition organised by the Office of Principal Accountant General, Nagaland in Kohima on November 24 as a part of the Audit Awareness Week.
College students share views on governance at CAG’s 'Audit Diwas ' event
Kohima, November 24 (MExN): Lack of strong action against wrong-doers’ is encouraging more corruption in the Nagaland while the State Government has failed to monitor the judicious utilisation of public money.
These were some of the observations made by college students in Nagaland during an inter-college extempore speech competition organised by the Office of Principal Accountant General, Nagaland in Kohima on November 24.
The competition was organised as a part of the “Audit Diwas/Day” (November 16) by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and subsequent “Audit Awareness Week” being observed across the country.
The students further highlighted that marginalised and people at the grassroots level are suffering more due to corruption at the top and non-reaching development to them, a press release from the AG Office informed.
Twenty-four students representing 12 colleges in and around Kohima participated in the competition organised to give a platform to today’s youth to express their views on the present scenario of “Accountability, Transparency and Good Governance,” it said.
Arguing that the Government has failed to monitor the judicious utilisation of public money, the students also stated that people should ask where, why and how the public money is spent.
Further, they noted that the Government and the public should work together for better governance as well as promote free and fair election so that good and capable leaders are elected to ensure good governance.
Citizens are important stakeholders and therefore should take the responsibility to hold the Government accountable, they underscored.
Punctuality and discipline in the government offices will further promote good governance, the students shared.
Students should come together to raise their voice against backdoor appointments and fight for equal opportunity, they asserted.
Meanwhile, some opined that while the Right to Information Act is a powerful tool to promote transparency and accountability, it is just a tool to get the information and its effectiveness depends on how the people it.
Other issues included the overpopulation of educated youths and changing mindsets and looking towards private sectors/self- employment and not only depend on government jobs.
The students also called for strengthening the deplorable conditions of the government hospitals in the State, terming it as a “ticking time-bomb.”
As per the release, Takanungba Pongen of Modern College, Kohima was declared the winner of the competition and awarded cash prize of Rs 15,000 and a Certificate.
HanlulaYimchungrü of Sazolie College and Philomina Rutsa of Kohima Science College, Jotsoma were emerged second and third respectively. The second and third were respectively awarded Rs10,000 with Rs 5,000 with certificates.
Consolation prizes (Rs 1000) with certificates were given to all the participants.
The judges for the competition were Dr Rosemary Dzüvichü, Professor, Department of English, Nagaland University; Rupin Sharma, IPS, DG (Home Guards, Prisons & SDRF) and Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS, DC Dimapur.
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