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“MICCI
should promote journalistic use of RTI”
A
report on the two days National Convention on “Right to
Information: The Road Ahead” during 12-13 December 2008, at
ICG, Dona Paula, Goa
The
National Convention on “Right to Information: The Road
Ahead” was organized by the MICCI
(Media Information and Communication Centre of India), FES
(Friedrich Ebert Stiftung) and ICG (International Centre Goa).
Delegates from 14 states participated in the convention.
Participants from states presented their papers on the
assessment of “Reach and Impact of RTI: Role of Media” and
delegates discussed issues related to RTI during the convention.
It was suggested by various speakers including Ms. Aruna Roy and
Mr. Nikhil Dey that MICCI shall come forward to promote the
journalistic use of RTI. It was also suggested that MICCI shall
find out various ways to link various RTI related issues with
media and shall build up a bridge between media and RTI movement
in India.
The
convention begans with the welcome address by Arjun Halarnkar,
programme manager, ICG followed by the theme address by MS.
Nandini Sahai, director, MICCI. She emphasized on the need to
review the status of RTI in various states as the ACT has
already completed three years of its enactment.
The
convention was inaugurated by Ms. Aruna Roy, a famous fighter
for transparency and recipient of Magesasey award. She said,
“The Right to Information movement can help achieve
accountability among bureaucrats and political leaders if
citizens across the country use the act in a proper manner. ….
The RTI Act is a powerful Act. … Democracy is speaking truth
to power. .. We can now see relevant records of panchayat with
regard to expenditure … ‘hamara paisa – hamara hisab’.
We now can do social audit. …” Mr. Collin Curry, Trustee,
MICCI delivered vote of thanks at the end of inaugural
session.
The
first session of the state wise presentation on the status of
RTI was presided by Mr. Vishnu Rajgadia, the secretary of
Jharkhand RTI Forum. Dr.
Raja Muzaffar Bhat (J & K) Dr. Dayanand (UP) and Prof.
Sanjeev Bhanawat (Rajasthan) presented the reports regarding
there states.
The
second session was presided by Ms. Vinita Deshmukh from Puna.
Mr. Vishnu Rajgadia (Jharkhand) Mr. Ishwar Daitota (Karnataka)
and Mr. Charanjit Singh (Punjab) presented the reports regarding
there states.
The
third session was presided by Mr. Nikhil Dey, the famous RTI
activist from MKSS. Prof. Arun Aram
(Tamil Nadu), Mr. Snehasis Sur (WB), and Prof. Abdur
Rahim (Andhra Pradesh) and presented the reports regarding there
states.
On
the second day of the convention, the forth session was presided
by Mr. Snehasis Sur (WB). Mr. Fredrick Noronha (Goa),
Ms Vinita Deshmukh (Maharashtra), Ms. Meena Jagtap
(Gujarat) and Prof. P. N. Mishra (Madhya Pradesh) presented the
reports regarding there states.
There
has been open discussion after presentation and delegates
presented their views also. One of the participant raised a
question – how to deal with judges? Now it’s time to start a
judicial accountability campaign. No one can be above the law.
… Justice delayed is justice denied.
During
the valedictory session of the convention, Mr. Rajeshwar Dayal
from FES, Mr. Nikhil Dey, member, National Campaign for peoples
Right to Information and Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sanghatan
delivered the valedictory address and Mr. A. Venkatratnam, (IAS
Retd.) Chief Information Commissioner, Goa delivered the special
address in the convention.
Some
of the points rose during the discussion and presentation can be
summarized as under:
v
Right to Information (RTI)
provides us right to know. We can use the Right to Information (RTI)
Act 2005 to stop corruption and avoid delays in getting our work
done in government departments, municipal councils, village
panchayat etc.
v
The RTI Act 2005 enables
every citizen access to public information from government
records. RTI has become an important tool of social development
and good governance. Awareness among the people about the use of
RTI has had a great effect on the working culture of the
government. RTI has provided a base for new democracy. Let us
use RTI to know the information we need from public authority.
However, it is felt that a large number of citizens are unaware
of the provisions of RTI Act.
v
Section 4 of the Right
to Information Act 2005 describes obligation of public
authorities. There should have implementation campaign for
section 4.
v
Many officers of
government departments are not aware of the provisions of the
RTI Act.
v
RTI Act should be
included in the course curriculum of studies.
v
RTI Act is powerful, but
it has not been implemented fully. Many government organizations
have not updated their websites with regard to the information
under RTI Act. There should be consistent upgradation of
websites.
v
Efficient corruption
(one of the participants said) should be checked and it can be
by RTI Act, but government officials do not cooperate.
v
Journalists should
change their mindset with regard to RTI. More RTI success
stories should appear in media.
v
Some industrial houses
have used the RTI Act for rivalry purpose or some people have
used it for redress of their personal grievance.
v
Adequate resources must
be provided to PIO, State Information Commission.
v
Government officials are
required to change their mind set to implement the RTI Act in
letter and sprit.
v
Awareness programmes are
needed to create awareness among general public about the use of
RTI Act.
Report
presented by Dr. Divya Singhal, Assistant Professor, Goa
Institute of Management, Goa, ( email- divyasinghal@gim.ac.in
)
Release of Book : News in I-Next
News in Ranchi Express
Release of Book : News in JAGRAN
सूचना के अधिकार पर जागरूकता
अभियान चलाएं : मुंडा
रांची, आर्थिक संवाददाता : पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री अर्जुन मुंडा ने
प्रशासनिक कार्यो में गोपनीयता के बदले पारदर्शिता की जरुरत पर बल
देते हुए सूचना के अधिकार पर जन जागरुकता अभियान चलाने पर जोर दिया
है। जूनियर चेंबर इंटरनेशनल व झारखंड आरटीआई फोरम के संयुक्त
तत्वावधान में जेसीआई हाल में रविवार को आयोजित सूचनाधिकार की तीसरी
वर्षगांठ पर लोगों को संबोधित करते हुए उन्होंने सरकारी मशीनरी को
सिस्टम के तहत काम करते हुए विश्वसनीयता कायम रखने की सलाह दी, ताकि
प्रशासन और जनता के बीच दूरी कम हो सके।
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