Operationalisation of RTI Clinic in Bhubaneswar

All are invited to take free service on RTI matter  
 

15^th June, 2015 is the date of the Completion of ten years’ implementation of Right to Information Act in Odisha. RTI Act came into being on 15^th June 2005 after presidential assent on the Bill. As mandated, this law is marching ahead to enforce transparent and accountable governance system in the country. RTI Activists and the common people have been successful in their fight to expose corruption and irregularities in administration by using RTI and bring to lime light the inside story of the administration. As per National Study on RTI conducted by RAAG, it is found that RTI has been proved as effective tool   for the citizens for redressal of their grievances in Govt. offices.

But lack of public awareness on RTI and absence of mechanism to provide constant guidance to the common people about the procedure for filling RTI, Appeal and complaint has remained a grey area even after 10 years of implementation of RTI Act. RAAG study Report has exposed this dismal situation about public awareness about RTI as the 63% of the people have not heard about the RTI Act.  The use of RTI by the common people may be less than 10% in the country.

The implementation of RTI Act in Odisha has suffered a lot due to callous attitude of the state Govt. Anti-people Odisha RTI Rules stands as biggest stumbling block   in respect of effective implementation of the RTI Act. Since ten years, the State Govt. has not launched a single awareness programme on RTI in the state. Rather whatever achievement has been   made on public awareness in the state, it is because of the Civil Society Groups, NGOs who have played   vital role in conducting mass awareness programme in the state.    

With the objective to sensitise the people and help them in their pursuit to access information, it has been decided by Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan   to open RTI Clinic   in Bhubaneswar for two days i.e., 15^th and 30^th of every month.  RTI Clinic will be inaugurated at Nehru Institute of Youth Affairs (NIYA), near AG square, Bhubaneswar on 15.6.15 at 09.30 AM.   RTI Activists will render free service to the RTI Users and the common people guiding them from filling RTI applications to  lodging complaints in the office of Information  Commission.

I invite all of you to use this opportunity to exercise your right to access information.

Pradip Pradhan, State Convener, Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan

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