Awareness on RTI Act still very less: CIC

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
PULWAMA, June 9: A roundtable meeting on the implementation of J&K RTI Act was today held here wherein State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Khurshid Ahmad Ganai was the chief guest.
DDC Pulwama Ghulam Mohammad Dar, designated First Appellate Authorities, Public Information Officers, senior district officers and other concerned were present on the occasion.
During his interaction with officers of Pulwama district, the CIC said that the aim of the roundtable meeting was to sensitize the officers of the district administration about the RTI Act and the importance of it taking a proper footing in public offices in creating transparent, accountable and corruption-free Government in the State.
He explained in detail the various sections of the RTI Act and how these sections need to be implemented and the participants were made aware of the important provisions of the Act.
Ganai also spoke on the importance of pro-active and reactive information disclosure in the system and said that it promotes transparent functioning and gives rise to accountable administration.
He said that awareness level on RTI Act is still very less and more programmes on awareness generation need to be organized across the State and urged the DDC to hold a series of such programmes in the district.
He urged the DC to instruct the heads of departments in the district to make all the public interest information about their departments and their work, including details about the utilization of allocated funds available in the public domain on their websites.
Speaking on the occasion, the DDC said that RTI is a tool in the hands of disadvantaged people which has empowered common citizens across the State and a tool to ensure transparent governance. He also said that during last two months 136 RTI applicants have been received and 126 have been disposed-off and 10 are under process. Similarly out of 34 RTI appeals with first appellant authority, 31 have been disposed-off.
He assured the CIC that more training programmes will be organised for PIOs and FAAs.

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