Due to the State Government’s lackadaisical attitude, implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act is still inaccessible to common people,” said members of the Odisha Soochna Adhikar Abhiyan (OSAA) at a Press meet here on Thursday.
OSAA convener Pradip Pradhan said the State has failed to provide information in Odia language. Common people cannot understand the information given in English.
He said the RTI Act has many complexities and creates problems in getting information most of the time. Till July this year, 19,000 cases have been disposed out of total 23,000 registered with the State Information Commission (SIC), but 6,000 cases were closed after sending them to the first Appellate Authority without hearing, he said.
The SIC has failed to implement the Act in an effective manner, alleged the OSAA members, adding that they have already lodged 50 complaints against SIC members for not taking appropriate actions against violators of the law. The OSAA members demanded security for RTI activists who are unearthing corrupt practices of Government officials and helping make people aware about Act. They demanded stringent action against Rajnagar block’s Balisahipatna sarpanch Tapas Sahu for manhandling RTI activist Jayant Parida of the same Kendrapada district on Tuesday.
The sarpanch had also attacked a VlW and a clerk when they defended the activist. The VlW was ultimately rushed to the SCB Medical College Hospital. The police are yet to nab the culprit, alleged the RTI activists.