PM Modi to Attend RTI Function After All, Changes Bihar Programme

NDTV: New Delhi: Thursday, 15 October 2015.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly changed his schedule to attend the 10th anniversary celebration of the Right to Information or RTI Act.

The RTI convention was earlier not on PM Modi's agenda as he was to travel to Bihar to campaign for state polls that began on Monday.

The annual event traditionally opens with an address by the President or Prime Minister.

This year, the function was postponed from Monday - October 12 is when the RTI Act came into effect - to Friday, reportedly to suit the prime minister's schedule.

The PM's office reportedly told the organisers that he may not make it even on Friday, According to officials, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was to address the inaugural function and a small closing session would be held the next day.

But the Central Information Commission, which organizes the event, said last night that the prime minister would attend the RTI function after all. Sources say the government wants to underscore its commitment to transparency.

"I am glad that the PM has listened to criticism and is actually coming," said Wajahat Habibullah, India's first Chief Information Commissioner to NDTV.

Last year, the convention was not held because after the Chief Information Commissioner retired, no one was appointed, which, activists alleged, was a sign that the RTI was being neglected. They said that the PM's no-show would be further proof of the government's disinterest in RTI, a historic law that was seen as one of the most empowering for citizens, enabling them to seek any information from the government for just Rs. 10.

The new government, which took power last year, has been accused of not doing enough to protect the law that the Congress claims is its biggest achievement.

Appeals are piling up before the Central Information Commission, which has the power to fine officials for denying information.

For nine months till June this year, when a new Chief Information Commissioner was appointed, work slowed to a crawl.  From 23,000 in February 2014, the appeals against officers piled up to around 33,000.