Press
Information Bureau: New Delhi: Saturday, October 13, 2012.
The 7th
Annual Convention of the Central Information Commission commenced with
inauguration of the event by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan
Singh. Shri Satyananda Mishra, CIC, Shri Vijai Sharma, IC, Shri Narayanasamy,
Minister of State for Personnel Public Grievances & Pension, Govt. of India
and Shri P. K. Mishra, Secretary, DOP&T were present on the occasion.
Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh while inaugurating the convention pointed out the
successful implementation of this Act in past seven years and congratulated all
those associated with the implementation of this act. However, the right to
Information is still evolving in the country he said. He also expressed his
anxieties in the area of concern in this field viz. misuse of this Act,
infringement of personal privacy, how much and what extant information
regarding public private partnership be disclosed etc. The Prime Minister
emphasized on a balance between Right to Information and right to privacy. Dr.
Singh also stated that the public authorities have also an important part to
play in bringing about improvements in the implementation of the Right to
Information Act. Dr. Manmohan singh argued that the Right to Information is one
of the many steps of the government has taken for strengthening the
institutional architecture for curbing corrupting, enhancing transparency and
accountability in public administration and improving delivery of services to
the people.
In his
address, the Minister of Personnel, PG & Pensions congratulated the
Commission for their role in strengthening the RTI regime. He also commended
the role of the Public Information officers (PIOs) and stated that they are
unsung heroes of the RTI regime. He concluded by stating that the stake-holders
should use the information responsibly. Shri Satyananda Mishra welcomed the
guests on the occasion of completion of seventh years of the implementation of
RTI Act. Shri Mishra, in his welcome address stated that by openness of
approach, informality in style and simplicity of systems the Commission has
acted as an umpire standing right on the field along with the players rather
sitting on a pedestal and pronouncing oracles. He further pointed out the role
of civil societies for drawing attention of many new issues and area of concern
in past seven years. He emphasized on the role of civil society for keeping
their support to this Act because this Act is the mother of all other rights of
citizens and its intelligent and responsible use can correct many infirmities
in the government and make corruption difficult. Shri Mishra emphasized on the
usage of information received for redressing personal grievances of the
citizen. He also expressed his annoyances for misuse of this Act resulting
wasteful expenditure of public resources and highlighted the role of civil
society for checking the misuse by imparting training to the information
seekers. Shri Mishra also expressed his annoyance against public authorities
for not implementing section 4 (1)(b) of RTI Act.
Shri Andre
Beteille delivered the key note address. In his address he said the civil
societies (CSO) are an important element/agent in the democracy. He emphasized
that the CSO cannot be efficient unless the concept of the citizen is
developed. He stated that the CSOs, being a natural society, should scrutinize
the action of the government.
.JPG)
.JPG)
