RTI meet demands promised amendments to Lokayukta Act

Times of India: Ponda-Goa: Monday, April 22, 2013.

The first rural all Goa RTI convention held at Marcaim on Sunday has unanimously resolved to demand that the state government should pass the promised amendments to the Goa Lokayukta Act to give it more teeth on the lines of RTI friendly Uttarakand Lokayukta Act, during the ongoing assembly session of the state legislative assembly.

The convention was inaugurated by the former state chief information commissioner Motilal S Keny. Around 200 people, including RTI activists, NGO representatives and citizens, attended the day-long first in the state and country convention jointly organized by the Madkai Nagrik Kruti Samiti, the Parampai citizens forum, and the Goa RTI Forum.

A total of ten resolutions were passed in the convention, including the immediate appointment of the Goa state chief information commissioner and state information commissioner in a transparent manner and in accordance with law.

The convention by the activists, also resolved to demand that the Goa government ensure the proper implementation of Section 4 of the RTI Act in letter and spirit to ensure total transparency and accountability as envisaged in the RTI Act.

It has demanded that the Goa government take all possible steps to ensure that RTI activists are protected from physical attacks, victimization and retribution; that the Goa government take immediate steps to allow applications under the Right to Information Act to be accepted over the telephone and requisite application fees may be charged and recovered through the telephone bill, as is being done in the state of Bihar; that every panchayat and municipality in the state of Goa have a website and that it be regularly updated; that the cash balance/availability of funds of government departments, panchayats and municipalities be made available on their respective websites on a weekly basis.

All Goa RTI convention unanimously resolved that 50 per cent of public information officers in all government offices be women, and the rural RTI convention expressed its strong opposition to any move by the Central government to effect any amendments which would dilute the essence of the Right to information Act, 2005 (central act 22 of 2005).