Vice-President Hamid Ansari said that the RTI is a powerful tool to strengthening democracy and promoting good governance by enhancing a citizen’s ability to participate in the process.
Inaugurating the new building of UP Information Commission in lucknow on Monday, Ansari said,
"A new building always brings to mind the remark of a statesman of our times that we shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us. I am nevertheless happy to be here today to inaugurate the new building of the UP Information Commission."
"The formal recognition of Right to Information was an event of immense significance in the lives of Indians. The Central and State Information Commissions therefore have an important role to play in the effective implementation of Right to Information Act, 2005. This also holds good for U.P. Information Commission. The new building, I am confident, will assist the process," satetd the Vice-president.
Governor Ram Naik, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Senior Judge, lucknow Bench, Allahabad High Court, Justice A.P. Sahi and Chief Information Commissioner of UP, Jawed Usmari were present on the occasion.
The Vice-president said that the legislative intent was to empower citizens to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, reduce the gap between information provider and information seeker, enhance efficiency in administration of public authorities, mitigate corruption and promote good governance.
He said that there can be little doubt that this Act is one of the most empowering and progressive legislations passed in post-independent India. "This Act provides for better governance and impact the very nature of governance itself," he opined.
Ansari said that the basic tenets of the Act have been implemented, the institutional mechanisms are in place and are being used by citizens as a tool to bring about transparency and accountability at all levels of governance.
He said that while the civil society and media can act as pressure points, most correctives need to be carried out by the government and Information Commissions.
"There is a need for a sustained mass awareness campaign, need for greater voluntary disclosure of information held by public authorities, need to rid ourselves of the old mindset regarding secrecy of government processes and transactions and the need for person demanding information under the RTI to be emboldened and secure," he said.
The Vice-president pointed out that the processwas , conceptually initiated during the previous NDA regime when the Parliament passed the Freedom of Information Act, 2002. This was followed by the present Act that came into force on 12 October, 2005.
Ansari said, "It is often said that India’s RTI Act is one of the world’s best laws with an excellent implementation track record.’’