JAMMU, OCT 30: In a major youth outreach initiative aimed at promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in public administration, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, organised a day-long Youth Parliament and Vigilance Awareness Session at the Police Auditorium, Gulshan Ground, Jammu, on the fourth day of Vigilance Awareness Week-2026.
Organised under the national theme “Probity for Prosperity”, the programme witnessed participation of approximately 550 students and faculty members from different colleges affiliated with the University of Jammu, besides around 60 officers and officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The initiative focused on sensitising young people about the consequences of corruption, the importance of ethical conduct in public life and their role in strengthening transparent and citizen-centric governance. Special deliberations were held on the functioning of the Revenue Department, Jammu Housing and Urban Development Department and Police Department.
Director ACB J&K, Shakti Kumar Pathak, presided over the programme in the presence of senior officers of the Bureau, while Prof. (Dr.) Kulwant Singh, former Director of the Law School, University of Jammu, attended as the distinguished guest.
Addressing students from various colleges, Pathak emphasised that integrity, transparency, accountability and ethical values must form the foundation of public administration. He encouraged young people to actively oppose corrupt practices and contribute towards building a society based on honesty, fairness and good governance.
He underlined the importance of youth participation in promoting a corruption-free society, observing that the younger generation has a significant responsibility in shaping a transparent, accountable and prosperous nation.
A major highlight of the event was the Youth Parliament Session, in which 35 student interns and members, including the Speaker, participated in structured deliberations on three important issues concerning public service delivery and departmental functioning.
The first motion examined whether digital transformation had made Revenue Department services more efficient and effective. The second focused on the Smart Jammu initiative, debating whether the vision of a smart city was becoming a reality or remained a distant goal. The third motion examined whether the Police Department was adequately prepared to tackle emerging cybercrime threats.
Following detailed discussions and voting, the motions concerning the Revenue and Police departments were passed by majority, while the motion relating to the Housing and Urban Development Department was not passed.
The exercise provided students with practical exposure to parliamentary procedures, democratic debate, collective decision-making and the functioning of public institutions. It also encouraged participants to critically examine governance challenges and express informed opinions on issues directly affecting citizens.
Another important feature was an interactive Kahoot-based questionnaire and audience polling session comprising 30 questions covering cybercrime and policing, Smart City initiatives and digitisation of revenue records. The session attracted enthusiastic participation from approximately 400 students and officials, making the awareness exercise more engaging and participatory.
Prof. (Dr.) Kulwant Singh, in his address, shared insights from his professional experience and highlighted the need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government departments. He stressed the importance of ethical conduct, institutional accountability and commitment to public service in ensuring responsive governance.
In his concluding remarks, SSP ACB Jammu Shivdeep Singh, underscored that probity, integrity and ethical decision-making are essential for strengthening public confidence in government institutions. He emphasised that transparency, accountability and a sustained zero-tolerance approach towards corruption are necessary for achieving good governance, inclusive development and sustainable prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.
The programme concluded with the presentation of mementos, certificates of participation and appreciation to students and participants in recognition of their involvement in the initiative. The honours were presented by the Director ACB, Prof. Kulwant Singh, SSP ACB Jammu and other senior officers of the Bureau.
The formal vote of thanks was proposed by SSP ACB Jammu Shivdeep Singh Jamwal, who expressed gratitude to the Director ACB, distinguished guest, participating educational institutions, students and officers for their contribution to the programme.
Through the initiative, ACB J&K reiterated its commitment to expanding vigilance awareness activities across educational institutions, government departments and the wider public, with a particular focus on cultivating integrity and ethical responsibility among young people and public servants.
The programme marked an effort to take the anti-corruption message beyond conventional awareness campaigns by providing students with a platform to debate governance issues, examine institutional accountability and understand their role in building a transparent and corruption-free society.
