RTI activists have demanded safety and security in the wake of increasing threat to their life in the State.
They sought adequate financial support to the surviving family members and education of the children of activists Ganesh Chandra Panda and Krupasindhu Sahu, who were killed.
Besides, they called for a sensitisation programme on different provisions of the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014 for the activists.
These proactive steps are required given the fact that the Right to Information Act, 2005 provides inadequate protection to whistleblowers.
The Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions are not mandated to deal with such threats or attacks or to provide protection when needed. The RTI Act too contains no provision for the security/safety of the whistle-blower.
The Supreme Court had expressed concern over the murders of and attacks on RTI activists and whistle-blowers. It said the State Governments were responsible for their security and safety.
“There is a need to bring some provisions in Whistle blowers Act to protect witnesses that would provide confidence to those who expose corruption,” Central Vigilance Commissioner K V Chowdary had said earlier.
He also emphasized upon making public aware on the procedure to file complaints under Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informer (PIDPI) Act.