Kashmir Reader: Baramulla: Thursday, May 18, 2017.
The district
development commissioner (DDC) Baramulla today said that 2183 applications were
received under RTI Act in the district between 2009, when the Right to
Information Act came into effect, and 31st March 2017. He said that all the
applications had been responded to.
He said 500
more applications had been received since then and the administration had
responded to 482 of them.
The DDC was
speaking at a meeting at Dak Bunglow where the Chief Information Commissioner
of J&K, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, was taking stock of implementation and
monitoring of RTI Act on Wednesday.
The CIC said
that RTI Act is meant to secure information under the control of public
authorities; to promote transparency and accountability; to contain corruption;
to increase citizens awareness and ability to exercise their own rights; to
equip citizens to participate meaningfully in the development process and more
importantly the Act is intended to provide people with a legal mandate
mechanism for obtaining government records towards welfare governance.
The meeting
was attended by DDC Baramulla, Dr Nasir Ahmad Naqash, Registrar SIC, ADC, SDM
Pattan, Tehsildars, FAA’s, PIO’s, APIO’s from all departments, RTI activists of
the valley and officers from various departments.
While talking
about the quantum of applications being filed and disposed in the district, the
CIC said that, less number of applications either reflected quick disposal or
lack of awareness. “It is up to us, people at the helm of affairs, to discern
the reality. Since the Act mandates transparent governance, our positive
attitude and courtesy towards applicants can strengthen efforts towards that
direction,” he emphasized.
The RTI
activists present in the meeting discussed threadbare the various dimensions of
the Act and emphasized the need for awareness, implementation and proper
monitoring.
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