Srinagar, Oct 27 (KNO): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday organised youth parliament sessions and vigilance awareness programmes in Shopian, Reasi and Rajouri on the first day of Vigilance Awareness Week-2026, under the theme “Probity for Prosperity”.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the ACB said the programmes aimed to promote integrity, transparency and accountability in public administration by engaging students, government officials and educational institutions in discussions on good governance and public service delivery.
At Government Degree College Shopian, the programme was attended by ACB Director Shakti Kumar Pathak, senior officials, retired SKIMS professor Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah and former State Taxes Commissioner Showkat Aijaz Bhat. Around 400 students and faculty members from 23 government degree colleges of South Kashmir, the University of Kashmir and the Central University of Kashmir participated, along with officials from the Health and Urban Local Bodies departments.
A youth parliament involving 32 student participants deliberated on transparency and accountability in healthcare and strengthening local governance. Both motions and accompanying resolutions were passed by a majority. An interactive quiz on departmental functioning, ethics and anti-corruption also formed part of the programme.
In Reasi, the ACB’s Udhampur-Reasi Branch organised a youth parliament at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, focusing on the Rural Development Department. Padma Shri awardee and Sanskrit scholar Vishwa Murthi Shastri attended as the chief guest. Eighteen student participants discussed rural governance, transparency and accountability, followed by an interactive quiz.
At Government PG College Rajouri, the ACB’s Economic Offence Wing and Poonch-Rajouri Branch held a similar programme focusing on the Social Welfare Department. The session was attended by department officials, educators and ACB officers, while 20 student participants deliberated on public welfare, transparency and accountability in governance.
Question-and-answer sessions using the Kahoot application were also held at Reasi and Rajouri, with students and officials participating in discussions on vigilance and good governance.
The ACB said such outreach programmes would continue across educational institutions and government departments to promote a culture of honesty, transparency and accountability among students and public servants—(KNO)