Mangalore, October 13: Lectures, training sessions and anecdotes of Right to Information activists marked the sixth anniversary of the Act jointly celebrated here by a number of citizens' groups under the aegis of Citizens' Action for Transparency at the Town Hall in Mangalore on Thursday.
The formal inaugural session attended by District Sessions Judge H R. Deshpande, Mangalore Bar Association chairman S.P. Chengappa set the tone for an engrossing training session where Addoor Krsihna Rao of Consumers Forum, Mangalore, explained in detail how to file an RTI application.
Quoting extensively from his personal experiences, Mr. Rao regretted that the present education system which teaches children about rocket science and astronomy does not equip them with the basic knowledge of law.
He also warned the educated and responsible citizens that if they fail to make use of the RTI Act, they would be contributing to the gradual demise of the revolutionary Act.
He also explained the simple steps to be followed during filing an RTi application and informed that there is no upper limit on the number of queries that can be posed in one application. “You can even ask 100 questions. This has been made clear by the Central Information Commission in its recent order,” he claimed.
Mr. Rao also tried to allay the notion that the Act is a tool which could be used against the government. “No. Certainly it is not against the government. It is a tool to enhance the efficiency of the government,” he maintained.
He also informed the audience, consisting of scores of Students from Roshni Nilaya College of Social Work, that the Public Information Officer who fails to provide the information within the stipulated time or provides inadequate answers, could be penalized with a maximum fine of up to Rs. 25,000.
“In October alone, Rs. 3.7 lakh was collected as fine from defaulters in as many as 70 RTI cases,” he said.
He also emphasized the need to inculcate principles of honesty and morality among the children at a time “when corruption has enveloped every profession “ and called upon the youth to select a field of their choice and try to make a difference through effective use of the RTI.
Lolaksha, the Ahinda leader, who delivered the valedictory speech, expressed reservations about Supreme Court's recent observation about the misuse of the RTI Act. “There is no question of misuse at all. It is a misplaced apprehension that the government's day to day functioning gets delayed due to RTI queries. The government is bound to reveal necessary information to the citizens. Unfortunately the mindset of the official machinery is still in the hangover of the Official Secrets Act. It is an instrument to increase accountability and transparency in the administration,” he added.
Dr. Rita Noronha, of Roshni Nilaya School of Social Works, regretted that the corporate world has today taken over the tyrannical order of the Zamindari system and acquisition of land and natural resources and minerals are becoming easier and easier day by day. “Even the people's representatives are rendered helpless in today's situation. It is the duty of the informed citizens to ensure a dignified life for the Dalits, the Adivasis, the minorities and the women. “All our efforts should be aimed at minimizing the gulf between the rich and the poor, the haves and the have nots,” she added.
Ivan Minezes, of CODP, Mohammed Kabeer of White Whistle, Mangalore, Tukaram Ekkaru of Velored and Dayal from Udupi narrated their successful experiments with regard to RTI.
Harsha Raj Gatty, joint coordinator of the forum, welcomed the gathering and gave an account of the activities carried out by the likeminded organizations. A minutes silence in the beginning to pay tributes to the martyrs of RTI movement including Shehla Masood and Dattatrey Patil
Roshni Nilaya students also enacted a skit highlighting the importance of the Act and the changes it brought to the lives of ordinary people.
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