Imphal, February 07 2009: Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, the people of Manipur have, of lately, called for transparency in the governance of the State.

Recent reports on RTI seminars and awareness programmes besides certain reports of the Act being applied by the people of the State for transparency in the functioning of the State officials or related field speak of the same.

As per certain reports, a discussion on RTI and rural development, conducted by the RTI Nupi-Lup, Uchekon at the Lai-Moriba Community Hall on January 5 called for transparency on all schemes such as the NREGS, Indira Awas Yojana, Total Sanitation Campaign, etc.

which are under the Central scheme.

Besides calling for transparency for the welfare of the State on the part of the Government, the discussion also called on the job-workers for sincerity and hard work and cooperation from concerned authorities and Gram Panchayat too.

And in a probable move beyond discussion, T Bimola, a member of the RTI Nupi Lup Uchekon reportedly informed the gathering that she had even complaint to the Department of Civil and Food Supply, Government of Manipur, about the loophole in the work of the NREGS and the lack of transparency regarding the job cards, daily wages, bank pass book and even asked for enquiry into the matter.

Besides this, a one day media workshop on RTI Act, 2005 was also reportedly held on January 7 at the State Guest House, Sanjenthong in Imphal East.

Organised by the State Academy of Training, SAT, the workshop was participated by various media organisations of the State and called for transparency in the governance of the State.

As per the reports, the organisers stated that the workshop was held with the objective to familiarise the media about the features of the RTI and how the media can help spread the message to the larger public that the RTI was an empowerment act meant for the people.

Addressing the media persons, Irengbam Arun, editor of Ireibak, a local daily of the State informed that though Manipur has formed an information commission under the RTI act, it was still an incomplete act.

Besides Arun, eminent media persons of the State also reportedly pointed out certain 'grey sides' of the Act and called for a transparency of the Act and the Government.

On another occasion, an awareness programme on RTI was held on January 13 at Wabagai Lamkhai in Thoubal district under the aegis of the Wabagai RTI Lup, Hiyanglam Nupi Lup and Keirak Nupi Marup.

Enlightening the womenfolk and those gathered at the occasion, Wahengbam Joykumar, an RTI activist, asserted that an RTI movement in the State was a must for "our rights" and a transparency in the governance of the State Government.

However, amidst all these seminars and awareness campaigns were the reported events of how the people of the State on earlier occasion had applied the RTI Act for a transparency in the functioning of the State Government.

The first instance of the application of the RTI Act came to light in mid 2008 when Titus Kamei, a social worker from Tamenglong district, sought transparency on the alleged misused of Rashtriya Sambh Vikas Yojna (RSVY) .

And in another reported incident of the use of RTI Act, the DC of Tamenglong Deval Devanash was fined a sum of Rs 25,000 under Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005 .

Another incident to hit the headlines in the line of RTI was when a case was filed against the DC of Bishnupur and his office under the RTI Act Section 1 (a) for reportedly refusing to receive an application filed by a woman under Section 6 (1) of the RTI Act.

As per the reports, Hemam Nungshitombi, a member of Ngangkha Lawai Gram Panchayat had sought information on the implementation of the Indira Awas Jojana from the DC who is also a State Public Information Officer.

The applicant also sought to know any related facilities and benefits of any kind along with the names of the individuals selected as beneficiaries for the year 2006, 2007 and 2008 and the waiting list if any.

However, the DC's office refused to receive the application and a case was filed against them, added the reports.

With the people of the state becoming more aware of the RTI Act and its need in the state for a transparency, some already having applied the Act for a good purpose, it appears that the people are headed for a change in the State, especially in calling for a transparency in the governance of the State.

Comment