Transparency, accountability can only be maintained with utmost responsibility, RTI as a tool can be utilised for several constructive purposes said Subhash Agarwal while addressing a workshop on ‘effective implementation of Right to Information (RTI) Act’ organised on Tuesday at SKIPA in association with Department of Personnel and Training. Use of RTI act to combat and propagate different cases, empowering oneself with all kinds of information were discussed with the participants and other government officials.
Subhash Chandra Agarwal, a noted RTI activist, who holds the pride of the Guinness World Records for having written the most published letters to newspaper editors and frequently breaking stories of public interest including prominent journalist, Vishnu Rajgadia, Sudhir Pal of Manthan NGO, DG, SKIPA, Sudhir Prasad and Deputy Director, SKIPA, Usha Dwivedi addressed the gathering. Prasad while highlighting the importance of RTI, said, “Transparency has increased in government sector after the implementation of RTI Act. SKIPA will play a major role and act as a link in bringing few success stories of RTI among the people. Moreover, RTI Act 2005 needs amendment in order to stop its misuse in disseminating information in the coming days.”
Revealing about the power of RTI usage and about his early years of struggle, Subhash Agarwal pointed out, “As it is the most popular Act for empowering masses, approximately, 60 per cent government employees utilizes it for various matters including promotions, transfers, pensions and other core service issues.” When the RTI Act came into existence in 2005, Agarwal turned his talent for firm correspondence into a foghorn for public accountability. His first RTI plea was part of a property dispute with his uncle who, he claims, was usurping their ancestral property.