Corruption is a grave problem, which is plaguing our nation and it is not something which could be done away with by using a magic wand.
It requires sustained efforts and people who fight against it should join hands , said U.Sagayam, District Collector.
Delivering the special address at the People's Anti Corruption Movement (PACM) Week Day held at Gandhi Museum on Saturday, Mr. Sagayam narrated instances from his life and explained how he faced lot of hardships in his career just because of his honesty. He asked the participants at the meet to become propagandists against corruption.
R.Rengasamy, secretary, Gandhi Museum, said that in Madurai prior to the assembly elections it was everyone's dream to have a free and fair elections as the city was reeling under charges of cash-for-votes scam. This dream was made into a reality thanks to the efforts of U. Sagayam, he added.
K.Ramachandran, secretary, PACM, said that the movement has 150 members and 5630 students are part of it. The movement, which has conducted awareness programmes in 59 colleges and 130 villages in Madurai has been involved in monitoring supplies at fair price shops and issuing certificates at Village Administrative Offices.
Advocate N.S.Ponniah, legal advisor, PACM, cited two examples of how committed the government officials were during the British era .
He recalled the efforts of J.H.A. Tremenheere, the Chingelpet District Collector, who wrote to the British parliament on the conditions of the depressed classes and sought distribution of land for them, which was later called as ‘Panchami Land'.
He also talked of John Pennycuick who built the famous Mullai-Periyar Dam at Kumili, which helps irrigate over 3 lakh acres of dry land in Theni, Madurai and Virudhunagar districts.
One of the speakers said that if the existing Prevention of Corruption Act was amended properly there was no need for a Jan Lokpal Bill.
The speakers were of the opinion that awareness campaigns should be held regularly at schools and colleges.
