New Kerala: New Delhi: Friday, December 01, 2017.
The 25th
lecture of the 'Lecture Series' organized by the Central Vigilance Commission
(CVC) was delivered by Shri Radha Krishna Mathur, Chief Information
Commissioner, Central Information Commission (CIC) on the topic "RTI Act
for Transparency and Accountability" here today.
The areas of
intersection between the CIC and the CVC were dealt with in the lecture
delivered by Shri Mathur, explaining the traditional roots of ethics and
probity in public service. The experience of Western countries with the concept
of the Right to Information/Freedom of Information was explained in detail.
Shri Mathur said that more than 100 countries comprising about 78 percent of
the world's population is covered by such legislation.
He said that
some areas where transparency could help in improving governance include tender
committee deliberations and decisions regarding major contracts; defence
procurement processes, from framing of specifications to procurement decisions;
ownership and possession of land; and settlement dues of retiring employees.
Shri Mathur further said, a case was made for inclusion of a clause for
transparency and accountability in all laws being formulated.
Other
suggestions for improving transparency and accountability included digitization
of all cutting edge service delivery processes; digitization of records; RTI
appeals and public grievances to be used as an input into improvement of
organizations as well as for vigilance; data mining; and suo moto disclosure by
government agencies. Shri Mathur expressed the need for some preventive
vigilance projects to be implemented in selected organizations on a pilot
basis, for improvement of the working of organizations.
Vigilance
Commissioners Shri Rajiv and Dr. TM Bhasin were present on the occasion.
The lecture
was also attended by full time and part time CVOs based in Delhi/NCR as well as
CMDs, Directors and other officers of Government Ministries / Departments,
Central Public Sector Enterprises, Nationalized Banks, and other Organizations.
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