Bangalore:
"I do not know if it (India) can be called a democracy any more," said the former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde. Commenting on the state of affairs in the country while speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations of S Cadambi Group of Institutions on Saturday, he said that the elected representatives do not understand the role of a public servant.
"Today, one can define democracy as a government of the privileged few, for the privileged few and by the privileged few," he remarked.
Drawing a contrast with the functioning of the Constituent Assembly before Independence and the present-day Parliament, he said that members of the Parliament must learn the true meaning of "service."
Dr Mahesh Joshi, Deputy Director, Doordarshan, said there is a need to bring back morals and values into society. "Values have disappeared from the society. Schools must play a role in inculcating values among children," he said
Encouraging schools in the city to interact with each other, Kumar Nayak, Principal Secretary, Primary Education, Government of Karnataka, said that schools must become "resource centres."
"Today there is a school for every child. However, there is a need to analyse the way schools impart education," he explained.