TRAINING PROGRAMME ON “ETHICS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION”

Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) J&K Regional Branch today organized a one day training program on “Ethics in Public Administration” at the IIPA Seminar hall here today. A total of 96 participants of 21 departments of J&K government including Police, Horticulture, Accountant General, Central University Of Jammu, Engineering Department, ICDS, Legal Metrology, Industries And Commerce, Revenue, Sheep Husbandry, Agriculture, Employment, Rural Development, Cooperatives, Drugs And Food Control Org., Handicraft, Excise And Taxation, LSDA  attended the training program. The key theme areas of deliberations throughout the day long program included ‘Ethics in Public Administration’, ‘E-governance for efficiency and transparency’, ‘Right to Information and J&K Accountability Act’ and ‘Prevention of Corruption Act’, and a panel discussion on ‘Legitimacy and Accountability of State System-New Challenges’ along with exercise session for the participants.

Prof Neelu Rohmetra, Course Director presented the welcome address and introduced the theme of the training program and the speakers of the sessions to the participants. In his inaugural address, Dr. S S Bloeria, former Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir said that corruption is a top down approach and that moral authority is very a potent factor which can move the entire nation. He also advised the officers that a public servant should always consider himself to be in a glass house in full public view and to learn the art of being contended to operate for the good of the public.

Dr Ashok Bhan, Chairman IIPA and Former DGP, J&K, while speaking at the program said that systems fail due to unethical behavior and that purchasebility of criminal justice must go for good effect on polity. He also emphasized that one must work to change the system rather than punish people and therefore we must have electoral reforms in which technology can be an enabler for prevention of unethical behavior.

In the session on e-governance for efficiency and transparency, Mr. D S Oberoi, Scientist, NIELIT, J&K highlighted the benefits of ICT for the reduction of corruption in our country. Prof Indu Aima, Formerly Professor IMPA conducted a hands on exercise session for the participants. In the post lunch session, Mr. Sheikh Shakeel, Sr. Advocate and Mr. D C Raina, Sr. Advocate and Former Advocate General, J&K high court spoke on RTI, J&K State Accountability Act and Prevention of Corruption Act respectively where they focused on RTI and urged the participants to participatory to make the laws workable and effective. The last session was a panel discussion in which Justice (Retd) O P Sharma, Dr. S K Sharma, Information Commissioner and Prof. Sunita Zalpuri Kaul, IMPA & RD, J&K highlighted key issues related to new challenges facing the system with respect to accountability of state systems.

Mr J B S Johar, Honorary Secretary, IIPA was the organizer of the training program while Prof Neelu Rohmetra and Prof Alka Sharma were the Course Directors. Dr Komal Nagar, Joint Director Seminars coordinated the session and Dr Anil Gupta, Joint Secretary presented a formal vote of thanks.