Mulya Pravah 2.0
- The University Grants Commission (UGC) publishes rules, guidelines, and directives so quickly that the higher education community sometimes fails to notice some of the more significant ones.
- The goal of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Mulya Pravah 2.0 guideline was to inculcate ethics and human values in higher education institutions.
About UGC:
- It was established in 1956 as a statutory authority.
- It is in charge of organising, deciding upon, and upholding higher education standards.
- It grants recognition to Indian universities and distributes funding to these accredited colleges and universities.
Mulya Pravah:
- 2019 saw the notification of it.
- It aims to instill professional ethics and human values in institutions of higher learning.
- By directing people and institutions towards values, the stated goal is to create value-based institutions.
- towards strengthening bonds to the nation and cultivating a profound appreciation for basic obligations and constitutional principles.
Mulya Pravah 2.0:
- It emphasises how important complete transparency in administration is.
- It emphasises that biases should not taint decision-making in higher education institutions; rather, institutional and public interest should be the only factors considered.
- It demands that officials’ unfair benefits be eliminated and that the corrupt be held accountable by the government.
- The importance of “encouraging persons at all levels to think and give their advice freely” is emphasised.
- “Ensure integrity, trusteeship, harmony, accountability, inclusiveness, commitment, respectfulness, belongingness, sustainability, constitutional values and global citizenship” is what the guideline requires of higher education institutions.
- The policy mandates that higher education administration handle issues with the utmost integrity, accountability, fairness, and transparency.
It prompts management to:
- behave in their institution’s best interests
- establish a work atmosphere and culture that are supportive of research, teaching, and learning
- enhance their institution’s potential.
- It states that employees, including officers, must “avoid misappropriating financial and other resources.”
- Refuse to accept gifts, favours, services, or other things from any individual, organisation, commercial enterprise, or government agency that might taint the impartial execution of tasks.
It is necessary to handle the secrecy issue:
- Public scrutiny and voluntary disclosure of all pertinent information must be required of higher education institutions.
- The guidelines should strongly encourage them to upload meeting agendas, minutes, and procedures from their standing, subcommittee, and decision-making bodies as soon as possible.
- They have to make their audited accounts and yearly reports available to the public.
- This will serve as a deterrent to misconduct and help rebuild public trust in the institutions’ ability to function.
Unethical behaviour in different organisations:
- partiality in employment, education, income, and advancement;
- sexual assault
- discrimination based on gender in promotions
- contrasting perspectives on discipline
- Absence of confidentiality
- Pay disparity based on gender
- non-performance elements that are missed in evaluations
- agreements with suppliers for private benefit
- discrimination based on gender in employment and recruitment.
Education-related provisions found in the Constitution:
- Education was transferred from the State to the Concurrent List in 1976 by the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution.
- Article 21A: It states that all children between the ages of six and fourteen have the fundamental right to free and compulsory education.
- Article 39(f) stipulates that children must be provided with the means and chances to grow up in a healthy way, with freedom and dignity.
- Article 45: The State shall make every effort to offer free and compulsory education for all children until they reach the age of fourteen within ten years of the adoption of this Constitution.
- ARTICLE 46: The State shall provide special attention to advancing the economic and educational interests of the most vulnerable groups within society.
The Way Ahead:
- If the move isn’t supported by genuine attempts to guarantee that Mulya Pravah’s stipulations are followed in text and spirit, it might just be a formality.
- The regulator(s) overseeing higher education must exhibit zero tolerance and move quickly to eradicate any evidence of corruption in the employment, admissions, or testing procedures, or in any other area of university management.
- According to Mulya Pravah 2.0, staff members and student unions must “raise issues in a dignified manner and support the administration in development activities.”
- Stakeholder unions and associations act as collective pressure groups, utilising their collective power to safeguard the rights and interests of its members.
- Every stakeholder must be given the opportunity to actively take part in defending, maintaining, and elevating the standards and culture of their respective organisations.
- In order to be considered collegial, the administration must interact with and consult with stakeholders during the decision-making process.
- Staff and student unions are required by Mulya Pravah 2.0 to “raise issues in a dignified manner.
