Morung Express News
Kohima | July 4
A one day sensitization on Right to Information (RTI) was held for the officials of the Directorate of School Education on July 4 at the directorate’s conference hall.
The resource person for the sensitization program held for the Joint Directors/ Deputy Directors/ Assistant Directors/ PIOs/ APIOs/ Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents was Hovithal Sothu, Deputy Director (trg), ATI, Kohima.
Categorized into three sessions, the officials were sensitized and updated on the overview of Right to Information Act, how to handle RTI applications, and the role of the PIO/APIO/DA.
Smita Sarangi, IAS, Principal Director, School Education in her keynote address stressed on the essence of coordination while catering to applicants on the right to information. “RTI has come under the mandate of fundamental rights, therefore we cannot deny that right,” said Sarangi. Although RTI is being misused, she urged the officials to diligently deliver the right to information. Emphasising further on the roles of the PIOs and APIOs, the Principal Director noted that the successful implementation of RTI will require the coordination of multi branches of the department. “As officers, we are responsible in providing information,” added Sarangi.
Beginning with the historical perspective of RTI, Hovithal Sothu stated that Sweden already had a system of Right to Information act in place circa 1776. Sothu noted that the RTI is a democratic beacon which has transpired into a fundamental right and is directly linked to the right to life. “Constitutional clauses are difficult to enforce directly because each and everytime we cannot approach the Supreme Court or high court to enforce our fundamental right,” he stated, adding that denial of information is the denial of rights.
The RTI Act which applies to the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir aims to secure transparency and accountability of public authority. Sothu also informed that the RTI Act covers office owned, established or centrally sponsored government offices as well as independent/private organizations which are funded by the government such as YouthNet, NSACS which comes under the ambit of RTI.
