Lok
Satta Brings Back Smile on the Faces of "Unsuccessful
Students" (2004)
A student given 0 marks gets 65 marks on revaluation!
A
B.Sc. (Mathematics) 2nd year student got zero in the initial
evaluation by the university. The same student secured 65
marks - way above the pass marks - after his papers were
re-evaluated by an expert faculty as a result of Lok Satta'
s initiative. Similarly, a student who got 16 marks secured
74 marks after Lok Satta's revaluation. A B. Sc. final year
student, B. Sudhakar, who was awarded 33 marks for his Maths-3,
was given 68, 70 and 71 marks by three different expert
evaluators for the same paper!
How
the Guntur unit did it:
In
a shining example of collective action, the Lok Satta unit
in Guntur helped in bringing back smiles on the faces of
2254 students in Guntur. In the recently conducted degree
exams by Nagarjuna University, Lok Satta received complaints
regarding evaluation of the answer sheets. Responding to
these complaints, Lok Satta procured the photocopies of
those answer sheets after paying the requisite challan.
These answer sheets were then re-evaluated by faculty of
various universities in the presence of the media at the
Lok Satta office. After scrutinizing the answer sheets,
the faculty unanimously voiced their opinions that all the
students have done well and that they would not have hesitated
to pass the students. This was an unprecedented event in
the history of this university. The re-evaluated papers
were handed over to the Vice Chancellor. Quickly responding
to this, the VC ordered an immediate revaluation of the
concerned students' papers.
Lok Satta's Call to Fight Corruption (2004)
'Fight
Against Corruption' Programmes from December 3 - 9, 2004
Lok
Satta, in collaboration with responsible citizens, like-minded
citizen-groups and the civil society, has embarked upon
creating awareness about corruption throughout the state
for one week starting on December 3 and culminating on December
to mark the 'International Anti-Corruption Day' on December
9. The campaign was aimed at promoting awareness among people
about various solutions to root out corruption in the country.
The focus of the campaign was electoral reforms, empowerment
of local governments, right to information for citizens
to curb corrupt governance and people's participation in
evolving anti-corruption laws and effective mechanisms.
'Walk
Against Corruption' on December 9 - A 2 km 'walk against
corruption' was organized in every village, mandal and city
in the State. It culminated on December 9 with a resounding
pledge by people to fight against corruption.
Lok
Satta sent 1,50,000 post cards to the Prime Minister to
bring about the RTI bill in the winter session of the Parliament.
Further, Lok Satta organised 150 one-day training programmes
for 10,000 people to bring about awareness regarding democracy,
the role of citizens in the functioning of the democracy.
Advisor
and Lead Role in Governance Reforms
As
a result of its work, LOK SATTA emerged as an influential
voice for specific governance reforms in various fora of
civil society. It has a wide popular base of about 35% support,
though largely passive, across Andhra Pradesh. In almost
every habitat LOK SATTA is known, and it enjoys high credibility.
LOK SATTA is now nationally recognized as a credible, non-partisan,
effective platform to fight corruption, and seek better
governance.
LOK
SATTA is relied on as a non-partisan and credible advisor
even by the government and all major political parties on
administrative reforms and a range of public policy issues.
LOK
SATTA is now playing a key role in strengthening other civil
society initiatives for governance and electoral reforms
in several major states.
