Indian Express: Thiruvananthapuram: Wednesday,
July 13, 2016.
SOCIAL
activist Aruna Roy on Tuesday said that it was high-time that Kerala
implemented social auditing in government departments so as to ensure a
corruption-free environment. She was speaking at a seminar on the topic
‘Corruption-free Kerala’ organised by National Campaign for People’s Right to Information
(NCPRI) at Gandhi Bhavan.
“Apart from
social auditing, a Public Acceptability Bill should also be introduced by the
Kerala government. I had met Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in this regard. In fact, I requested him to consider
this as foremost priority”, Aruna Roy said.
She also
added that Kerala was yet to utilise the significance of Right to Information.
“As a
literate state, Kerala is not making use of RTI. In fact, many of the people
are still unaware of the Act. Hence, awareness is the need of the hour.
However, the situation is comparatively better in Kerala”, said Roy.
She also
raised apprehensions over the Kerala’s stance on women’s entry to Sabarimala
temple.
Chief
Information Commissioner Vinson M Paul explained the merits and demerits of RTI
services in the State and also emphasised the need for the speedy
implementation of Right to Services Act. He also said that the RTI had not
reached the common man in the state.
Paul also
made it clear that the RTI applications should be short and specific rather
than long stories.
Chief
Secretary S M Vijayanand and former police chief Jacob Punnoose also spoke on
the occasion.
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