Right to Information Week Celebration held
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 05 2024: One should use the Right to Information (RTI) Act properly as it is intended for instead of misusing it to take revenge on others, Manipur Pollution Control Board chairperson Dr Usham Deben Singh as stated.

Manipuri Information Commission celebrated the Right to Information Week Celebration-2024 at the auditorium of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), here, on Saturday.

Speaking as chief guest of the event, Dr Deben said that RTI needs to be used properly for it plays an important role in enhancing the democracy and governance of the country.

It should never be used as a tool for revenge for it leads to unnecessary delays and even non-resolution of related process for years.

Thus, RTI activists should make proper use of the Act to save time, he said, while adding that the Act allows candidates to push for re-examination of their answer scripts of an examination, if they feel the marks they got do not commensurate with their performance in the said examination.

He continued that RTI could be used to check whether the government departments have utilised the funds for which they are meant to be, while allowing citizens to understand the workings of government machineries.

All citizens must use the Act accordingly and government departments should not hide the information sought through the RTI queries, but rather strive to give the information in a timely manner and prevent issues resulting from denying information.

Dr Deben then said that all must take on the responsibility of ensuring democracy is on the right path.

MLAs are elected by the people and so good governance depends on the people.

There are incidents of RTI activists facing issues while collecting information or of "negotiations" being held between the parties concerned among other issues.

One should extend support to the work instead of viewing each other as enemies and delaying the processes.

If this is the case, it would be better to consider negotiations instead of going through the process of filing an RTI application, he suggested.

The MPCB chairperson further said that the Indian democracy system is an envy for all and as such, one should utilise the RTI Act to further improve this system for the better.

The function was also attended by MIC state chief information commissioner Koijam Radheshyam Singh and former state chief information commissioner Th Ibobi as presidium members.

The function, which was sponsored by Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions, Government of India, also featured a workshop.

MIC joint secretary G Shantikumar Kabui and deputy registrar (Judicial-1) S Inao Singh spoke as resource persons during the workshop.

Comment