RTI week observed across Nagaland

Staff Reporter Dimapur, October 12 RTI Week, an event that promotes the use of the Right to Information (RTI) Act for the empowerment of citizens and their right to information about development and government function was observed across Nagaland this week. In Dimapur, the office of the deputy commissioner of the district observed the Right To Information (RTI) week from 7th October 2015 to 12th October 2015 with 12 villages under Dimapur district where Village Council Chairman, Village Development Board Secretary and women representatives were sensitized on the procedures of RTI Act. RTI Act is not a new area under discussion for citizens but the ignorance on the information leads to misuse of the rights. In order to impart awareness on essentials of the RTI Act, the Dimapur DC Office organized a programme for 12 villages on the valedictory day of the RTI week. Delivering the keynote address Dimapur DC & First Appellate Authority (FAA) Kesonyu Yhome, IAS pointed out that the RTI proceedings in the state is not practiced as per the guidelines and remarked that with lack of added information on RTI inconvenience is created for smooth execution of the provided Act. RTI Act has been enacted with the objective to create transparency and accountability stressed the DC. While maintaining that any public has the right to file for RTI who wants to access information provided it is addressed to the respected Department Public Information Officer (PIO) and furnished with full address details, DC lamented that the Act is misused by some section of society to victimize some individuals with vested interest and used for harassment.RTI Act is to provide information and not reason provided the information applied for is available at the particular office record stated the DC. He further added that information will not be provided on assumption and informed that the RTI can be filed at any department that an individual is seeking information on provided it is addressed to the particular PIO with an application fee of Rs. 10. The programmes was chaired by ADC & PIO Elizabeth Ngully and a power point presentation by SDO (C) & APIO P.James Swu. Changtongya In commemoration with the RTI Week from October 5 to the 12th, a meeting on sensitization of RTI was held on 9th October 2015 at Dobashi Customary Court Changtongya. During the meeting SDO (C) Chumlamo Humtsoe highlighted on the importance of RTI where he said that it is an powerful instrument for the public to enquire on the developmental activities that are being carried out by the government in the area for the benefit of the public also to know day to day functioning of the government for transparency and accountability. He called upon them to use the RTI in the right manner. The meeting was attended by all the Village Council Chairmen, VDB Secretaries under Changtongya sub-division and Changtongya town, Ward GB and Chairmen. RTI Act 2015 booklet in Ao dialect was also distributed to them for reference. As part of the Right To Information week, celebration Peren district observed RTI Week with the theme ‘RTI and Village Administration’ on 12th October at Town Hall, Peren. PIO and ADC Peren, S. Tainiu in her keynote address stated that RTI is a very powerful tool for citizen empowered by the government for which RTI Act was passed on 15 June 2005. She added that good governance will be effective with the active participation of the masses and that RTI came into force for accountability and transparency in the governance and to remove corruption in the society. Short speech was delivered by Nampeu Nza, Ward Chairman President Peren Town, Mireulung, President Peren Students Union and Deusoyi, President Peren Town Youth Organisation. EAC Dr. Diana Patton in her closing remark thanked all the GBs, DBs, Village Chairman, VDB Secretaries, NGOs, Pastors, Ward chairman, Peren Student Union and PTYO for their participation in the programme. Right to Information (RTI) week was observed at Kiphire at DC’s Conference Hall on 9th October 2015 with Deputy Commissioner, A. Chumremo Odyuo as the special guest. He highlighted on the importance and values of RTI in a democratic country and reminded that RTI is being implemented to ensure the transparency and accountability in the department. RTI acts as a tool to check corruption and to solve their problems, he added. Welcome speech was delivered by Chairman Dr. Tinojongshi, ADC Hq. Kiphire. Vote of thanks was delivered by EAC Hq. Kiphire, James T. Tikhir.