RTI Week celebration concludes
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 10 2023:
The Right To Information (RTI) Week celebration organised by Manipur Information Commission (MIC) came to a close today at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.
The week-long celebration was sponsored by the Department of Personnel and Training of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Today's valedictory ceremony was graced by Khongbantabam Ibomcha, MLA Lamlai AC; Oinam Sunil, Chief Information Commissioner, MIC and Bijoy Kakchingtabam, president, All Manipur Working Journalists Union as the chief guest, functional president and guest of honour respectively.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Kh Ibomcha said that RTI Act is a pro-people Act that can help in bringing about good governance.
With proper information about the workings of the Government machinery, people can put forward their grievances and offer suggestions in a fruitful manner.
Thus, the RTI Act is a tool for the public to get the right information.
Meanwhile, Bijoy Kakchingtabam, president, AMWJU highlighted the need to discuss if the public as well as scribes are using the RTI Act in the correct manner.
In this regard, he stated that there are reports of some RTI activists collecting information through the Act and using the same information to blackmail people.
He also said that an RTI Act workshop should be conducted by the MIC in collaboration with AMWJU in connection with the year-long observance of the Union's golden jubilee celebration.
Meanwhile, Oinam Sunil, Chief Information Commissioner, MIC, pointed out the low number of scribes filing RTI applications in Manipur and the even lower number of scribes from the hills doing the same.
In other states, 40% to 60% of RTI petitions are replied to on the first appeal itself but in Manipur around 80% of RTI applications remain unanswered, he shared.
As a part of the event, prizes were distributed to the winners of the painting competition organised by MIC in collaboration with Manipur University of Culture in connection with the RTI Week celebration.