Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 17
As part of the RTI Week 2014 celebration, the Nagaland Information Commission (NIC) today organized a day-long seminar on ‘RTI and Role of Media’ at Hotel Vivor, Kohima with members of the Fourth Estate from Dimapur and Kohima, social and RTI activists, student bodies and NGOs.
Former Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission (New Delhi) and RTI activist, Shailesh Gandhi and Guwahati-based veteran journalist and assistant editor of The Indian Express, Samudra Gupta Kashyap were the resource persons of the programme.
In his keynote address, Gandhi, who was involved in drafting the national Right to Information (RTI) Act, shared an insight into the development and objective of the Act. He said RTI establishes the individual sovereignty of each citizen and acts as a powerful tool to improve governance, making democracy more meaningful.
“RTI is not a new right, it is the fundamental right of the citizens ingrained in the Constitution of India,” he said, and went to explain that the Act provides a check on the government and has so far been effective in bringing about crucial changes in various parts of the country. However, he lamented that many people are not aware of what RTI can do and towards this, he urged upon the civil societies and the media to take this Act forward and make it grow so as to usher in the true essence of democracy.
The RTI activist inserted a little caution saying while using RTI can be very rewarding as it provides a balance in the equation of power, it should never be used as a measure of personal vengeance on anyone.
Addressing the second plenary on ‘RTI and Role of Media’, Samudra Gupta Kashyap said the right to freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in the Constitution was incomplete before the advent of the RTI Act 2005. He pointed out that the media has three major functions- information, education and entertainment, and as far as RTI is concerned, media directly engages itself in information as well as education. He said the majority of the people have learnt to use RTI Act because of the media.
Stating that media occupies a very critical place in the process of governance acting as a gatekeeper, Kashyap said it is the journalists that disseminates critical messages to the citizens and highlights various issues, concerns and initiatives that affect their lives. He, however, said it is unfortunate that RTI has yet to become part of journalism curriculum in India. He observed that very little effort has been put in by the authorities to take media on board RTI and consider it as a force multiplier.
“Once we have more journalists and more media houses using the RTI, things will be much better,” he added.
On the implementation and practicality of the RTI Act in Nagaland, NIC under secretary, Worhonthung Ezung informed that the number of RTI applications have remarkably gone up from 46 in the initial year of implementation (2006) to over 4000 in 2014 alone. Despite the growing figures, more awareness at the grassroots is needed and this is where he feels that the media can be instrumental.
“In Nagaland, RTI is underused,” said Monalisa Changkija, editor of Nagaland Page, who was a panellist at the session. In a small state like Nagaland, words get by fast and people know a lot of things but they lack evidence, and RTI is the tool to get that evidence, she asserted. Expressing concern that many people are consumed with fear, which in turn makes them silent and impotent, Changkija stressed on the need to overcome this attitude and utilize the tool that is in RTI to strengthen the governance in the state.
Another panellist, consultant editor Eastern Mirror and pioneering TV journalist from Nagaland, Bano Haralu said the shortage of reporters in the state is a deterrent factor for the state’s media houses to depute reporters with the primary duty to file RTI applications like national media houses. She also feels that social networking sites such as Facebook are gaining more popularity as an interactive medium amongst the young educated people instead of newspapers.
She underscored the need to inculcate the habit of reading, and as far as RTI awareness through the media is concerned, she feels that a study and feedback mechanism should be put into place so as to ascertain whether, or not, the information is actually reaching to the people at the grassroots.
Temjen Jamir, editor of Tir Yim Yim, a vernacular daily, said while the local newspapers are responsible to disseminate information, radio is still relevant for the people living in the rural areas to access news and information.
DIPR joint director, Limawati highlighted some RTI applications that were filed in his department and pointed out the need for applicants to be thouroughly prepared for follow-up action.
Acting Chief Information Commissioner Nagaland Kevinino P Meru said there is an increase in the RTI applications over the years but pointed out that more awareness on RTI is needed.
Recommendations on Pg 2
