Bhubaneswar: Educational institutions across the state will be organising events to create awareness about ways to deal with corruption in the society. These events will be held to celebrate the vigilance awareness week.

The central vigilance commission has decided this year the vigilance awareness week would be observed from 30th October to 4th November. The theme of the week is "My Vision-Corruption Free India".

Activities such as lectures, panel discussions, debates, quiz, essay-writing, competitions such as poster-making and slogan-writing on moral values, ethics and good governance practices are being organised at colleges and universities. Schools also are hosting seminars to create awareness about the necessity to eradicate corruption from the society. Mass rallies were orgnised at Kendriya Vidyalaya schools in the city. In a rally by Kendriya Vidyalaya-IV here, students marched near Niladri Vihar and Buddha Park to create awareness against corruption. After the rally, students and staff members of the school took the integrity pledge.

"Efforts should be made to improve the educational system to inculcate strong values, ethical conduct and commitment towards the welfare of the society at large,"said principal of this institute Snehasuta Shadangi.

A number of youth groups in the city are sending messages in bulk through email and social networking services to create awareness. A group of students of Utkal University are sending 100 messages per day to celebrate the week. A number of social organisations are hosting interaction sessions with vigilance officers and students.

Pamphlets and handouts on preventive vigilance activities, whistle blower mechanism and other anti-corruption measures are being distributed to students. Workshops and sensitisation programmes will be organised throughout the week as well.

"There is need to host such events so that students understand about the ill-effects of corruption and stay away from it," said Asha Mishra, a Class X student.