DNA:
Mumbai: Tuesday, 28 April 2015.
There is some
good news for all those who want to file RTI applications. The department of
civics and politics of the University of Mumbai will start a certificate course
on RTI from the new academic year in July-August. To be in both English and
Marathi, it will have a batch of 30 students. The course curriculum has been
finalised and it has been moved for approval.
"The
course will be of three months or 72 hours. We feel such a course was required
because there is a need for transparency. It will not only be helpful to RTI
activists but also to others in creating awareness about the Act. The
curriculum will have details about the Act, teach how to file applications and
other procedural aspects," said Surendra Jondhale, head of department of
civics and politics.
The
curriculum is being formed with the help of former central information
commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, Bhaskar Prabhu of the Mahitit Adhikar Manch, an
organisation that creates awareness on RTI and Venkatesh Nayak of Access to
Information Programme, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, who has been part
of the RTI movement. They will also be training the faculty besides being part
of it.
"We will
tell people about the history of RTI, the impact and its necessity,
transparency and accountability and the role of various bodies on how it came
about from starting as a movement in a remote place. We will also teach how to
use the Act for social audits and monitoring of section 4. Towards the end,
they will be given topics to file RTIs," said Prabhu.
The educational
qualification is yet to be finalised for the course. While some feel it should
be around standard 12, some others feel those having completed standard 10
should also be allowed.
The
department is expecting the first batch of students to be out by October 12,
which is the day the Act was put to implementation.
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