RTI awareness still a far cry in Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray
Ukhrul, October 17 2014 :
Public consciousness on the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005, a Constitutional privilege of the citizens in the world's largest democracy, is ominously still very poor in Ukhrul.
The district social welfare office (DSWO) and the district zonal education office (ZEO) are glaring instances as concerned citizens seeking pertinent reports were flummoxed by their response.
On Friday afternoon, an RTI application filed at DSWO was outrightly refused by its responsible official.
"The relevant official at Ukhrul DSWO refused to accept my RTI application arguing there is no public information officer in his office," said a youth activist Akhui Raising.He expressed utter dismay that the government office doesn't have PIO despite the RTI Act implemented 10 years ago.
In another similar case, a concerned local and a youth activist AC Raising submitted Thursday three RTIs to the public information officer (PIO) at ZEO Ukhrul to seek information on three schools namely Sirarakhong Government High School, Sinakeithei Zingshang Government School and JP School, Ringui.
The copies were received by a baffled ZEO's staff, who claimed to have received the RTI application for the first time.
In an interaction with this reporter, Raising said the staff was so confused as how to deal with the RTI application.
The three copies were however received by the receipt clerk after much explanation by the applicant and consultation with the department's senior official.
It's a strange situation! That a government employee in an important public office like education is still ignorant of an instrument that empowers citizen to seek information from any public institutions.
The three RTIs submitted on Thursday last sought information on the status of staff and facilities in the three district schools under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 .
The situation in ZEO office is suggestive of the poor RTI movement in Ukhrul.
Even after the enactment of the Act in 2005, the public and government employees here still have a faint knowledge of the key instrument gifted to the citizens.
In other department in Ukhrul, it's the same case as in Zonal Education Office.
Public seeking information under RTI Act is also still a negligible case even in other district government offices.
Staff in various government offices here are also not in the know of the official assigned as PIO .