KOHIMA, OCTOBER 12: RTI Week under the theme “RTI Act and role of NGOs & CSOs” was observed at Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, Kohima on Wednesday.
First Appellate Authority & Deputy Commissioner Rovilatuo Mor, in his keynote address, stated that while every citizen can take privilege of using RTI Act to ask for any information pertaining to any issue, intention of the concerned applicant should not be to misuse it.
The DC said that through the RTI Act, citizens can get information and details pertaining to the functions of various government departments. With all the basic information uploaded on the Information Commission website, every interested person will have easy access to the website. Appraising the PIOs and APIOs to exercise all options to give priority to furnish information to the applicants and maintain proper record of whatever information were furnished, he also emphasized on the use of technical experts to furnish desired information without the loss of valuable working hours.
The DC cited that while RTI Act has tremendously empowered the citizens to access various vital information from government set up through which loopholes in the functioning of the government departments have been rectified, misuse of the RTI Act by a citizen should be avoided.
Furthermore, he said harassment of the department, officers or the dealing branch through misuse of RTI Act will not help achieve the target objective of passing the RTI Act. The DC also stated that asking for records and information of a concerned department since the beginning to be provided within one month’s time was impractical. To curb this, the applicants have to specify in which area the information was sought.
Stressing on the proper of the RTI Act for public interest to help the government and public authorities to rectify the lapses in its functioning, he made an appeal to all the NGOs to sensitize the public to make use of RTI and its provisions in the appropriate manner for specific interest. The DC concluded his speech by highlighting that awareness on proper use of the Act will insure transparency in the working of the government and instill greater confidence on the citizens in the government and its machinery.
Public Information Officer & Additional Deputy Commissioner, Lithrongla Tongpi, Kohima was the chairperson of the programme and vote of thanks was given by APIO and SDO (C) Sadar, Kohima, Kethosituo Sekhose.
Resource persons for the programme were EAC (Sadar), Kohima Thejavizo Nakhro, DPO, DRDA Kohima Rokozelie Usou and PO, ADC (Planning), Kohima Nchungbemo Lotha. DPRO, Kohima screened a Documentary Film on RTI. Staff representation from Chiephobozou, Tseminyu, Jakhama, Sechu-Zubza and Botsa also attended the programme.
