CII's campaign streses on following Vedic and Gandhian values

Chandigarh, May 4 (UNI) The need to follow ancient Indian concept of integrity, "Manas ekam, vachas ekam, karmam ekam", stressing upon the unity of thought, word and deed and the Gandhian values for achieving a corruption-free India, was stressed as the CII (Northern Region) kicked off its Integrity India campaign here in presence of hundreds of city students here today.

Prof R P Hooda, Vice Chancellor, Kurukshetra University here today. Addressing a packed auditorium of students from over a dozen City schools, mooted the idea of Corruption studies along the lines of environmental studies and gender studies.

The Integrity India campaign is part of CII's effort in catalyzing industry's engagement on crucial social and national issues, and is designed to focus national attention on transparency, accountability and ethical behaviour. The youth-centric programme is being driven by the Young Indian Forum that focuses on issues of national importance and motivates a generational change in the economic and social agenda of India.

Mr N R Narayana Murthy, Chief Mentor, Infosys chnologies who is leading the campaign conceptualised by CII President R Seshasayee, said in a recorded video message that the Integrity India campaign was a long term affair which aimed that the mindset that corruption was here to stay and cannot be removed, must go from the minds of the young.

Besides motivating youth to become agents of change, the campaign is using the RTI Act and e-governance to take it forward. To ensure total nvolvement of industry, the CII planned to set up a cell to address the genuine issues of harassment faced by small and medium entrepreneurs in regard to tax issues.

The other speakers, including Kavita Das, Principal, Saint John's High School, Sumeet Anand, Chapter Chair, Delhi - Young Indians&Managing Director, Arjowiggins India, Partap K Aggarwal, Chairman, CII, Chandigarh Council, referred to the "Corruption Perceptions Index 2006" commissioned by Transparency International and lamented that India ranked as low as 70 in terms of corruption level.

Exhorting the youth to draw inspiration from Integrity's unquestioned icon, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the speakers urged the youngsters to ''stand up for a corruption-free society for the sake of their own future.'' UNI