3.3.7 On 7th April, 1979, closely
following the enshrinement of Fundamental Duties of Citizens in the
Constitution, a group of patriotic citizens with an urge to ensure effectuation
of these duties and to prompt good citizenship values set up the Citizenship
Development Society (CDS), as a registered body.
3.3.8 Several efforts were made to generate
awareness of the importance of practising citizenship values. The main
ingredients of action programmes taken up by the CDS were:
(i) Strengthening
Citizenship education at al levels of the educational ladder,
(ii) Developing training/orientation
programmes for imparting Citizenship Values to persons in various walks of
life,
(iii) Tuning and orienting the national
ethos of good citizenship values and undertaking field work and rural
development programmes.
(iv) Pressing and persuading the Planning
Commission to lay stress on Citizenship Duties, Values and Citizenship
Education.
3.3.9 CDS approached the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting to strengthen their programmes for fostering good
citizenship on AIR and Doordarshan. The Ministry accepted their request to produce a
series of films on good citizenship to promote citizenship values among masses.
At the Society's instance, a documentary film entitled "Aaramb" was
produced by the Ministry's Film Division, and the film was telecast in 1985.
3.3.10 A Project entitled "Production of
Reading Material, Songs, Posters and Slogans", for fostering good
citizenship among adult learners in the Union territory of Delhi was
implemented in the 1985-86. Further reading material and visuals were prepared
for use at the adult literacy and primary stages during 1986-88. Preparation and publication of Hindi
booklets on citizenship duties for neo literates was also undertaken by the
CDS.
3.3.11 A Centre for Research and Training in
Citizenship Development (C.R.T.C) was established by the CDS with the following
objects:
a. Research
in various aspects of citizenship development
b. Designing
training and orientation programmes for citizenship education
c. Preparation
of course materials to impart education in citizenship duties
d. Providing
consultation services for citizenship education
3.3.12 The CDS approached University of Mumbai to consider introducing
Citizenship Development as one of the important areas of graduate studies.
Their Board of Studies in Politics has accordingly drafted a syllabus of a
Paper entitled "Citizens, Citizenship Awareness and Training in
Citizenship". They have further informed that this Paper will be
compulsory for all the students in the faculty of Arts, Commerce and Science at
graduate level.
3.3.13 Taking lead from this initiative of
Mumbai University, the CDS has taken up the subject of Citizenship Awareness
and Training with other Universities in India. Unfortunately, University Grants
Commission (UGC) have informed that they have no scheme under which funds could
be provided for promoting Citizenship Awareness at the university level.
3.3.14 As a result of two Panel Discussions organised on the subject of
the Citizenship Values enshrined in the Indian Constitution, it was decided to
distil citizenship values enshrined in the Constitution and prepare a Book
under the title "Citizens and the Constitution". At the request of
the Society, the Publication Division of the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting, printed and published this path-breaking book. The book has been
translated into some other Indian languages. A Symposium on this Book was
organised on 2nd March, 1998 in collaboration with the India International Centre,
Rashtriya Jagriti Sansthan and D.H. International Centre of
Indic Research.
3.3.15 To this end, the CDS is committed to focus public attention on the
following:
Good citizenship deserves to be accorded the highest priority in
national life.
Citizenship development should be
based on values of democracy, rule of law and social justice.
Good citizenship should be founded on
a civic culture of mutual consideration and accommodation between Citizens,
State and Civil Society.
Citizenship education
in democratic governance is indispensable for each age group, for every
vocation and for every station of life.
Citizens who are called upon by
election, nomination or appointment to fulfill public responsibilities should
pledge themselves to respect the rights of fellow citizens and carry out
Fundamental Duties in letter and spirit.
3.3.16 There are some other NGO’s which are
endeavouring through Seminars and workshops the inclusion of education for
personality development as a course subject in Schools. Information and Inculcation of
Fundamental Duties has been and can be, the predominant part of their projects.
3.3.17 Inculcation in Schools
To
inculcate effectively the human values constituting development of the whole
personality of the student, such measures as the following are necessary :-
1. A class for about one hour duration
for men making education and for imparting the Fundamental Duties enshrined in
article 51A of the Constitution and also fundamental values from all faiths, on
three days a week.
2. A lecture to inculcate human values
and Fundamental Duties by eminent persons or spiritual luminaries (followed by
questions and answers) once in three months.
3. Periodical essay and elocution
competition on value based topics.
4. Yearly awards to students who stand
first in translating the values into reality.
5. Active involvement of parents in the
inculcation of human values.
6. Annual meet of teachers to evaluate
the performance of value based education.
3.3.18 It is only when devotion, dedication
and determination to duties become a habit or a part of nature and chracter of
the citizen that it will be implemented in daily life. Nature and chracter are formed, and
the personality is developed, during the fomative period of life that is the
age of 6 to 17 years. It is
at this stage of life (and that is generally the period when boys and girls are
at school that their nature and chracter are made by teachers. It is the teacher, with whom boys and
girls are for six hours or so physically, but more than 10 hours a day
mentally, that can construct the nature and character of the citizens in the
making. It is the Guru
(Teacher) whose prime duty is to inculcate human values in the SHISHYA (Pupil)
3.3.19 The role of parents is first to
inclulcate Sanskars in their children; not only by precept but more so by
practice; and, secondly, to cooperate with the teachers through vigilance that
their child practices in daily what he learns in the school, particularly the
lessons in all round development of personality.
3.3.20 The role of school management is to
extend necessary support to the teachers and to provide necessary facilities
for inculcation of human values in the students.
|
“The greatest of all the
means for ensuring the stability of the Constitution is the education of
citizens in the spirit of the Constitution”.
Aristotle
|
3.3.21 It will be only appropriate if in all
forms of oaths or affirmations prescribed under the Third Schedule to the
Constitution, the following words be added :
“…..and that, being
fully conscious of the fact that I am first a citizen of India and then
anything else, I shall sincerely discharge all the Fundamental Duties enshrined
in Part-IVA of the Constitution”.
And this pledge should be renewed
every year on the 3rd day
of January at an assembly of all persons holding public office, in all public
institutions – legislative, judicial and executive.
3.4 Aspiration
3.4.1 Sincere and effective
inculcation of Fundamental Duties particularly in the younger generation will
automatically give rise to aspiration to translate them into daily life. The test whether
inculcation has been sincere and effective is as to whether aspiration has
arisen in the minds of the students, to implement the Fundamental Duties.
3.4.2 Inculcation precedes and
implementation follows aspiration.
3.4.3 To make citizens aware of and to
aspire for implementation of the Fundamental Duties in daily life must be the
primary concern and obligation of the State. To that end, suitable provisions
could be added in due course in Part IV of the Constitution.
3.4.4 In every educational institution
whether public or private, the entire teaching staff and the students of the
school or college or the university, as the case may be, should take the
following pledge on the opening day and the closing day of each academic
session:
“I do solemnly and
faithfully undertake to perform / discharge the entire Fundamental Duties
enshrined in Part-IVA of the Constitution”.
3.4.5 Every holder of a public office
(whether political, academic, administrative, educational or otherwise
rendering public services) is first a citizen and then office-holder. Every office holder should be
conscious of his added responsibility of himself setting a good example of good
citizenship by translating into daily life the Fundamental Duties enshrined in
article 51A and thereby induce fellow citizens particularly those within the
sphere of his power and influence, to do the same thing. And all this he should do particularly
in the discharge of his official duties and also in his individual personal
life as a citizen. For
instance, the holders of political office like Prime Minister, Chief Ministers
of States, Ministers and Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative
Assemblies and Members of Legislative Councils should be persons who sincerely
promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people in
India transcending religion, linguistic and regional or sectional
diversities. Such of them
who thrive on caste and community – based electoral politics, whose outlook is
sectarian and who regularly espouse the cause of the community or the other or
who do not show equal respect to all religions and persons belonging to
different religions, cannot set an example in the matter of discharging
Fundamental Duties. Similarly
leaders, who in the past had organized, violent demonstrations or indulged in
destruction of public property or allowed depletion of forests and pollution of
lakes and rivers or responsible for destruction of wild life cannot inspire
other citizens to follow the Fundamental Duties. These illustrations apply with equal
force to the teaching community and other public servants.
3.4.6 Every public servant before he assumes
charge of his office shall take a pledge (standing before the entire staff of
the office) :
“I solemnly pledge myself to
discharge, as a citizen of India, all the Fundamental Duties enshrined in
Part-IVA of the Constitution”. And
this shall be renewed every year on the 3rd January.
3.5 Implementation
3.5.1. The following suggestions for the
amendment of the Constitution have been received to ensure the full
implementation of the Fundamental Duties.
(i) The opening words of Article 51A
should be reworded as follows :
“Every citizen of
India shall implement in daily life the following duties”:
(ii) Article 51A should be shifted to Part
II (Citizenship) of the Constitution.
(iii) Suitable changes may be carried out to
make Fundamental Duties to form a compendium with the Fundamental Rights.
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