Jharkhand Right to Information (RTI) Forum felicitated as many as 16 RTI activists for using RTI for the benefit of rural people on Monday.
The forum, Media Information and communication Center of India (MICCI) and FES-India organised a regional seminar to discuss the role of civil society in enhancing transparency in RTI Act.
The basic idea was to generate awareness about the provisions of RTI Act among the state residents.Chairperson of Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) Ranjeet Tibrewal said, “Our politicians misuse the loophole of RTI and they try to circumvent it. There is need that people know the provisions of RTI so that they can come forward to take a stand for their rights.”
Jharkhand RTI forum President Balram said, “If we want to save our country’s democracy than it is essential to implement RTI Act proper within the country.”
He further added, “RTI Act should be implemented at grassroot levels in PDS, ICDS, and Tribal sub plan.”Jharkhand RTI forum is considered to be active among other forum of the state.
Director of Media Information and communication centre of India (MICCI) Nandini Shai said, “We are working for RTI since 2006.I have travelled across the country and found that state RTI forum is active relating to other states.”
She further added, “Since 1993 country is demanding for RTI Act but this Act came into force in 2005. In other countries this act is known as Freedom of Information.”
RTI Act gives the citizen power to abstract information from government departments, which often form the ground for filing cases in court.