RTI convention under Transparency Initiatives, Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 06 2011:
The first State level convention on 'People's right to information' was held under the aegis of Transparency Initiatives, Manipur (TIM) at Manipur Press Club here today.
TIM has been formed with the main objective of protecting RTI activists from threats and harassments as well as to create awareness among the people with regard to implementation and use of RTI for transparency and accountability among public authorities.
Apart from presentation of draft constitution of Movement for People's Right to Information, Manipur (MPRIM) and its adoption, the convention reaffirmed the Shillong Declaration on the right to information made by the participants of the third National RTI Convention held at Shillong from Mach 10 to 12, 2011 .
Earlier, delivering the key note address of the convention, TIM convenor Wahengbam Joykumar observed that democracy can become meaningful and a Nation become successful only when all its people join in the governance process of that Nation.
But to make the people join in the governance, the Government concerned should take into confidence the people and provide them access to information with regard to developmental works and schemes.
So, the Right to Information is the birthright of the people.
He pointed out that in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations, it has been clearly stated that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression and this right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and idea through any media and regardless of frontiers.
In Article 19 of UN-Covenant on Civil Political Rights (ICCPR) too, it has been written that rights to information is same as the right of the of the people.
Moreover, in Article 19 (1) (a) of the Indian Constitution, it has been mentioned that 'all the citizens shall have right to freedom of speech and information.
However, in the last 55 years, different political parties have ruled the country and every succeeding Governments have taken away the right to information of the people, Joykumar lamented.
He went on to say that with the enactment of Right to Information Act, 2005, many changes have come about in other parts of the country.
But in Manipur, the situation is quite contrasting.
Here, RTI activists are being harassed and threatened by those in power.
Director of Human Rights Law Network Meihoubam Rakesh and RTI activist K Bowang Kho were also among other resource persons who spoke at the convention which also witnessed testimonials by RTI activists of Manipur.
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