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Inaugurating a two days workshop on "Right to Information Regime: Issues and Challenges" at the Aligarh Muslim University, Mr. K. Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha said that in order to promote openness, transparency and accountability in administration and in relation to matters connected therewith and incidental there to, its is required that every citizen has the Right to information under the control of public authorities. He highlighted that Right to Information Act encourages participation of people in a democracy. This law appears to be helpful for those who are not so educated or even if educated are not so well versed in administrative and departmental matters.
Mr. Rahman mentioned that even after three years of implementation of the Act, most of the Public Information officers take this Act carelessly and have the least knowledge of the Act. He suggested that a mandatory provision to establish a system of education in the RTI Act to be given to promote the freedom of information.
He further suggested to set-up a public education campaign on "how to access information in order to make them feel empowered."
Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha said that RTI Act was passed by the Parliament in 2005 and it was a historic legislation to empower a proud citizen of this democratic country. He appreciated the initiative taken by the Aligarh Muslim University under the pragmatic and dynamic stewardship of the Vice chancellor Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis.
While delivering the keynote address, Mr. Wajahat Habibullah, Commissioner, Central Information Commission highlighted the key concepts of RTI Act, 2005 and stated that transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority and the right of any Indian citizen to request access to information and corresponding duty of government to meet the request.
He said that every citizen of India has the right to inspect work, documents, records, take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records and to obtain information in form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts.
Mr Habibullah pointed out that only ten percent citizens of this country are aware about the RTI and suggested public awareness and educational programmes I all the educational institutions.
In his presidential address, AMU Vice Chancellor, Professor P.K. Abdul Azis said that this two days workshop is a constructive venture for creating sensitization and awareness to the teaching and non-teaching community so that they can provide better service to the seekers of information.
He hoped that the participants would avail the opportunity of getting them sensitized, educated and trained being better equipped to serve the legal and legitimate interest of the seekers of information.
Professor M. Shabbir, Organizing Secretary of the workshop said that this workshop is being held in collaboration with the faculty of law to sensitize and educate the AMU Staff both teaching and non- teaching who fall in the category of CPIOs on the emerging issues and challenges of RTI Act.
AMU Registrar, professor V.K. Abdul Jaleel proposed the vote of thanks. He hoped that the resource persons who have come from different institutions of repute shall be effective source of knowledge in the area and our participants will be beneficiaries of their profound knowledge and experience on the theme of this workshop. M J AKHTAR
The Indian EXPRESS
BARODA, GUJARAT
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