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From extempore, debate to awareness rallies; Brainware University observes Central Vigilance Week with a host of activities

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The observance of Central Vigilance Week is taken up in India for all the stakeholders to collectively participate in the prevention of corruption. This year, Central Vigilance Week was observed from October 31, 2022, to November 6, 2022. The theme for this year was 'Corruption-free India for a developed nation'. In this regard, Brainware University in collaboration with the Department of Law orgsanised several activities to observe Central Vigilance Week.

The week started with the integrity pledge on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the 'Iron Man of India'. Intending to build a future corruption-free India, the faculty members and students of Brainware University took the integrity pledge in the presence of Anandita Das, Assistant Registrar, Brainware University. The faculty members and students pledged to participate in anti-corruption measures through various programs and contribute to building a better future. "Any kind of amendments, modifications, improvisations start from the start," said Anandita Das at the end of the pledge.

An awareness rally took place from the Brainware University campus to Champadali Bus Stop on the same day. The students walked with banners and posters on 'Anti-Corruption'.

On November 2, 2022, Amrita Das Gupta, Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Brainware University spoke about the annihilation of corruption from all spheres of life. At a seminar on 'Judicial Accountability'. He asked a question - 'What does democracy mean?'. Das Gupta then went on to explain how the democratic society came into existence. "Earlier people used to fight among themselves like animals. Then they realised that we are the greatest creation and if we annihilate then who will rule? From this, people took a supreme authority - sovereignty," said Das Gupta.

A debate competition also took place on that day. The motion for the final round of the competition was 'The House Believes that Social Media is a Threat to Democracy'. The passionate debaters expressed their views for and against the motion. Important interventions were made by the adjudicators during the rebuttal rounds.

On November 3, a seminar on 'Good Governance and Grass Root Level Democracy' was held. Sougato Patra, BDO, Barasat was present at the event. "Corruption is deeply-rooted in our society. To get this out, we have to change ethically," said Patra. Patra highlighted the importance of 'transparency' at micro and macro-level governance to develop a corruption-free society. "We need a responsive government who will come up with prompt solutions," he added.

A seminar on 'Framework of Anti-corruption Laws in India' was also held on the latter part of the day. Soumyajit Raha, Special Public Prosecutor, CID, Government of West Bengal was the Guest Speaker. "We all love our country, but we know that it is not corruption-free," he said. Raha pointed out that this illegal behaviour takes place when someone is in a position of authority and expects to get benefitted. He further said that corruption can happen anywhere and highlighted the role of the lawyers to fight it.

An extempore competition took place the next day, that is, November 4. It was followed by a seminar on 'Anti-corruption Laws and its Application in India'. Abhimanyu Shandilya, Founder, Vidhikarya conducted the session. The one-week long programme finally concluded with a seminar on 'An Overview of Arbitration and Concillation Act 1996 - A Step Towards Equitable Justice'.Advocate Shrayashee Das, Principal Legal Associate from one of the top law firms in the city, Sinha and Co. Associates conducted the session. She highlighted the difference between 'Arbitration' and 'Mediation' to budding lawyers.

The observance of Central Vigilance Week at Brainware University is certainly going to be an example of the role that academic institutions should play to shape young minds against corruption.