Times of India: Trichy: Monday, 24 July 2023.
Arappor, an anti-corruption NGO, conducted a workshop on Sunday to empower youths and residents’ welfare associations with the knowledge of utilizing the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The cost-free workshop emphasized the importance of using the RTI Act to bring attention to malpractices and promote transparency in governance. Jayaraman Venkatesan, the convener of Arappor Iyakkam, explained how to effectively frame questions to seek public information and utilize the RTI Act as a powerful tool in safeguarding water bodies and resolving civic problems.
Case studies of corruption instances previously flagged by Arappor were shared with the participants. The workshop highlighted the clauses and conditions of the RTI Act. Participants were advised to be specific while obtaining data through the RTI Act, as the statistics gathered could be considered official information to expose deviations from standard practices and potential corruption charges.
Jayaraman suggested that if government departments cite incorrect reasons to deny information, applicants should analyze the justifications and pursue further appeals if necessary. The workshop also clarified the distinctions between public information, third-party information, and confidential information, as some RTI queries may be rejected on grounds of confidentiality.
The workshop provided training on accessing tender documents of public projects to identify potential irregularities. Around 180 individuals took part in the event.
Arappor, an anti-corruption NGO, conducted a workshop on Sunday to empower youths and residents’ welfare associations with the knowledge of utilizing the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The cost-free workshop emphasized the importance of using the RTI Act to bring attention to malpractices and promote transparency in governance. Jayaraman Venkatesan, the convener of Arappor Iyakkam, explained how to effectively frame questions to seek public information and utilize the RTI Act as a powerful tool in safeguarding water bodies and resolving civic problems.
Case studies of corruption instances previously flagged by Arappor were shared with the participants. The workshop highlighted the clauses and conditions of the RTI Act. Participants were advised to be specific while obtaining data through the RTI Act, as the statistics gathered could be considered official information to expose deviations from standard practices and potential corruption charges.
Jayaraman suggested that if government departments cite incorrect reasons to deny information, applicants should analyze the justifications and pursue further appeals if necessary. The workshop also clarified the distinctions between public information, third-party information, and confidential information, as some RTI queries may be rejected on grounds of confidentiality.
The workshop provided training on accessing tender documents of public projects to identify potential irregularities. Around 180 individuals took part in the event.
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