Biswajit cautions against misusing RTI Act
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 05 2018:
Information and Public Relations Minister Th Biswajit has expressed deep concern that the Right to Information (RTI) Act has been often misused and has turned out to be a tool for blackmailing in the State.
He also cautioned that the failure to check misuse of RTI Act may create more problems in the society instead of bringing anything positive.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of Right to Information Week Celebration, 2018, organized by Manipur Information Commission at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound today, the Minister asserted that often many of the RTI applicants withdrew their applications and ultimately negotiated or compromised with certain people.
He also opined that RTI is a very useful tool for bringing accountability and transparency in governance and affairs of public sector departments as every kind of information, except for some matters can be sought and gathered.
The Act will be quite beneficial if people seek information about the welfare schemes and programmes being implemented in their respective areas, he added.
Conveying that RTI was passed by the Indian Parliament on May 12, 2005 and enforced on October 12 of the same year after it got Presidential assent on June 15, he informed that two State Information Commissioners have been newly appointed to strengthen the Manipur Information Commission.
Delivering presidential speech at the function, Kakching A/ C MLA Y Surchandra Singh opined that everyone should be brought under the ambit of RTI Act, so that the Act will become more comprehensive and useful to the public.
He also advocated that displaying information on the status and details of local area development funds of MLAs and MPs in Government websites will reduce the volume of RTI applications.
Imphal West Adakshya RK Taruni also attended the function as the guest of honour.
Later a State level workshop on RTI was also held at the same venue and many experts, including Advocate Narendra Singh and Impact TV Editor-in-Chief Y Rupachandra spoke on various topics related to RTI Act.
The celebration will conclude on October 9 and many events such as district level seminar and State level RTI essay competition will be held during the week .