Implementation of Awareness Programmes on RTI Act not Satisfactory: Dr Jeevan B

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Chief Information Commissioner of Assam, Himangshu Sekhar Das held a discussion on the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI), 2005 in Lakhimpur on Monday.

The discussion was held with the Deputy Commissioner Dr Jeevan B, SPIOs, FAs of all the departments, RTI activists and the media persons of the district, at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The Chief Information Commissioner stated that the main objective of holding the programme was to create extensive awareness about the RTI Act which is a revolutionary Act that aims to promote transparency in government institutions in India.

“Equipped with knowledge about RTI, a common man can demand any government agency to furnish information. The organization is bound to provide the information, that too within 30 days, failing which the officer concerned is slapped with a monetary fine. To give information under the Act is the role and the otherwise is an offence,” he stated. He remarked that the implementation of awareness programme on the said Act across the State was still not satisfactory. Regarding the issue, he was of the opinion that the due awareness programmes should be conducted among the masses.

During the discussion, the Chief Information Commissioner highlighted various unheeded aspects of the Act with regard to the redress of public grievances. “The Act facilitates us the opportunity to understand what government is. The Act is people-friendly and it stresses upon supplying the information to the genuine information seekers,” he said while throwing light on the importance of the Act. In the discussion, journalists Ranjit Kakati and Priyam Jyoti Phukan, Joint Director of Health Services Dr. Harpal Sing Suri took active part highlighting some crucial points over which various allegations arise while implementing the Act in letter and spirit. The Chief Information Officer suggested the DC to organize awareness and training programmes and to bring the private institutions accountable and answerable under certain provisions of the Act.

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