RTI promotes transparency, accountability: Sarvesh Kaushal

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 19 

Sarvesh Kaushal, Special Chief Secretary-cum-Director-General, MGSIPA, Chandigarh, inaugurated a Right to Information (RTI) awareness camp at DAV College here today. 

The purpose of the seminar is to promote higher education, academic and administrative education.

Sarvesh Kaushal said besides providing relief to the people, the Act had also brought transparency, accountability and efficiency in the administrative system. 

“It has proved to be a useful tool for good governance. Its goal is to make people aware of the procedures in their surroundings as well as the complex policies of the government.” 

He also emphasised on having an active feedback system in the universities and colleges.

He said by the time the primary education did not improve, it was also dishonest to think of increasing the quality of higher education. 

“If the level of primary and secondary education is correct then the condition and direction of higher education will be improved. Today education is being seen to be combined with employment, it is wrong. The purpose of education is to develop ethics and to thrive in the thread of spirituality. For the qualitative improvement in higher education, it is necessary to improve the examination system and eliminate the ideological differences between the teacher and the student and bring about totality in knowledge,” he added.

Laying emphasis on starting inter-disciplinary relations he said  

at present, our knowledge had ceased. There was also a need to improve the methods of teaching, training and testing to improve higher education. 

Dr Guru Updesh, former director of the Human Resource Centre of Guru Nanak Dev University, said learning was essential for quality education. He insisted on three factors — Equity, Access and Excellence — to make educational institutions a better place to learn. 

While questioning about the accreditation given to colleges and universities, he said, “These days universities are faking grievances cell, and women protection cells to promote their organisation.” 

Principal Dr S K Arora welcomed the guests and introduced the dignitaries to the audience. 

An NAAC-sponsored National Seminar on ‘Academic and Administrative Audit in Higher Education’ was also started in collaboration with the International Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) on the occasion.