Discussion on steps for better implementation
EXPERTS IN social development, law, administration, voluntary sector, rural development human rights and media will discuss measures for effective application of the Right To Information (RTI) Act in the State at a two-day workshop from February 5. The workshop is jointly organised by the Department of General Administration, Department For International Development (DFID), UK and Samarthan, a lead NGO, at Hotel Jehan Numa.
Noted social activist Anna Hazare will deliver the opening address of the workshop that begins at 11.00 am on February 5. RTI activist Shekhar Singh and state information commissioner of Chhattisgarh A K Vijayvargiya will be present during the inaugural session. Minister of State for Home Nagendra Singh will preside over.
Technical sessions will deliberate on key provisions of the Act and state specific guidelines, role of the State Information Commissions and process of appeals, means of self-disclosure-current status and practices, and transparency and accountability at the institutions of local self-governance.
The RTI is a revolutionary right that promises to bring transparency in governance and make the administration accountable. There has been a rising tide of citizen applications for information from the government.
Simultaneously, civil society organisations along with media have created awareness about the act among the citizens. In this context, the workshop aims at documenting experiences of people who exercised their right, discuss the role of the state information commission in the context of applications that have been filed, assess measures of the government and ascertain the level of implementation and devise a strategy to implement the significant features of the act.Apart from senior officers from the state, representatives of State Election Commissions from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan are also expected to participate in the workshop.
Simultaneously, civil society organisations along with media have created awareness about the act among the citizens. In this context, the workshop aims at documenting experiences of people who exercised their right, discuss the role of the state information commission in the context of applications that have been filed, assess measures of the government and ascertain the level of implementation and devise a strategy to implement the significant features of the act.Apart from senior officers from the state, representatives of State Election Commissions from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan are also expected to participate in the workshop.