Character Building is Foundation of Nation-building, says Justice Devan Ramachandran

KOCHI:
High Court Justice Devan Ramachandran has emphasised the need for inculcating values such as integrity and strength of character in the young generation, saying that character-building is the foundation of nation-building. “Integrity and strength of character define a nation”, he added.

He was speaking at the valedictory of a vigilance awareness campaign held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi.

Describing corruption as a ‘cancer of society’, Justice Ramachandran said it impacts the weakest section of society the most, as they are most vulnerable to exploitation.

He opined that 99% of the cases that come to the court are related to corruption, and urged the young generation to understand the dangers of corruption and to work towards building a corruption-free society.

The High Court Judge warned against the growing trend of people saying that “the end justifies the means”, stating that this is a dangerous mindset that can lead to unethical practices and societal corruption.

He also spoke about the need to genuinely respect the law, rather than simply fearing punishment and being forced to obey it due to policing and camera surveillance.

As part of the vigilance awareness campaign, lectures, panel discussion, awareness classes, and various competitions, such as slogan-making, painting, quiz, and poster presentations, were conducted for school students and CMFRI staff. Prizes for the winners were distributed by Justice Devan Ramachandran on the occasion.

CMFRI Director Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan presided over the function. Dr. J. Jayasankar, Vigilance Officer and Head of Fishery Resources Assessment, Economics, and Extension Division of CMFRI, and Dr. Miriam Paul Sreeram also spoke.