Imphal, November 25 2010: A Guneshore Sharma, Judge Revenue Tribunal /MACT, today while delivering a lecture on RTI on the 1st day of the Bharat Nriman Campaign held at the Bishnunaha Community Hall, Yairipok said that the Right to Information Act, RTI, 2005 is a very powerful tool in the hands of common people to make the government of the day accountable.

He said with this act the common people can keep a tab on the day to day working of the government, how funds are being managed, how various programmes are being taken up, what is the exact status of these programmes etc.

In his lecture he elaborated on the various aspects of the RTI act, how it can be used through a simple application to the designated Public information Officer of the concerned department on payment of Rs 10/.He then went on to explain what constitutes information, what are public authorities, which agencies are exempt from the purview of the act.

But even these agencies which are exempted are answerable under RTI if it concerns the issue of corruption and violation of human rights.

He then went on to explain what steps can be taken in case of withholding of information sought under the RTI, which include appealing to an Appellet authority and finally to the Chief State Information Commission or the Central Information Commission if it concerns the central government.

During the interaction, one of the delegates wanted to know if RTI can be used to know the whereabouts of RK Meghen, Chariman of UNLF who was allegedly handed over to the Indian authorities by the Bangladesh security agencies.

In his reply A Guneshore said that RTI can definitely be used in the instance at question by an application to the Home ministry or the External Affairs Ministry.

The artistes of the Song and Drama Division presented cultural items on the inaugural day.

Thoubal, Lilong to receive 3G service Speaking in the afternoon session of the three day Bharat Nirman campaign held today at Yairipok Bishnu Naha Community hall organized by PIB Imphal in collaboration with sister organizations S.Ranjit Singh SDO, BSNL Thoubal said Thoubal has received 1021 WLL connections, Kakching 931 and Lilong 922 .

He was speaking on rural telephony.

The number of connections can be increased as long as there is demand for getting the facility.

Get an application form attach it with Rs 500 and an identity card.

The next step will be extension of the benefit.

He informed the gathering that earlier importance was given on lane line now it has shifted to wireless connectivity.

Thoubal and Lilong will get 3G service.

A father in London has received the service of a Brahman in conducting sasthi puja of his son from Manipur by using 3 G facilities.

Get the facility and feel the delightment of using modern connectivity.

He informed the crowd that Thoubal District has received nine sub divisions and under one sub-division there are eight exchanges.

The working capacity being 3270 .

There is also VSAT system, which provides connectivity to a village having only 20 persons, He said massive developmental programmes taken up in Thoubal District has affected telephone as lines are frequently cut.

Optic fibre lines are cut every day.

But repairing takes time as the man and machines are to be brought from Imphal.

He appealed to the telephone subscribers to bear with the inconveniences caused to them.

UPA government committed to upliftment of the minorities: Secretary state minority commission.

The UPA government under the leadership of Prime minister, Manmohan Singh is fully committed to the welfare of the minority communities of the country, said Md.Raheijuddin Sheikh, secretary, Manipur Minority Commission on the first day of the Bharat Nirman Campaign held at the Bishnunaha community hall, Yairipok.

Sheikh as part of the awareness campaign, elaborated on the Prime minister 15 point programme for the welfare of minorities.

Among the major thrust under these 15 point programme is welfare of the child and mother under the Integrated Child Development Scheme by providing nutritious food and adequate medical care.

The 15 pt programme also emphasizes access to education for the children of minority communities under the Sarva Shiksha Abhigyan, Kastuba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme etc.

Under this programme, effort are also on to make madarasa education relevant to the demands of modern times.

Giving scholarships to the talented students of minority communities is also one of the major steps taken to empower them.

The 15 point progamme include strengthening the Maulana Azad Education Foundation, providing employment, imparting training and giving equal benefit under the Rural Housing Scheme the members of the minority community.

The PM 15 point also lays special stress on the prevention of communal riots, punishing those responsible for spreading communal hatred and strife and also talks about taking up steps to rehabilitate the victims of communal riots.

The secretary,Manipur Minority Commission, Md.Raheijuddin Sheikh, at the end of his talk interacted with the gathered public and took questions and clarified on various aspects of the 15 point programme.

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