RTI week observed at Longleng district

Dimapur, Oct. 8 (EMN): The RTI Week (Right to Information Week) was observed in Longleng at the deputy commissioner’s conference hall on the theme ‘RTI and the role of citizens’ with the SDPO of Longleng, Imtiakum as the resource person. In his keynote address the Deputy Commissioner Longleng, John Tsulise Sangtam asserted that the purpose of observing the RTI week was to sensitise the citizens on importance of RTI Act and to refresh the government officers who are responsible to respond to the query of the citizens under the Act. Maintaining that the purpose of the RTI Act was to retain transparency and accountability in the working system of the government offices, John said RTI should not be use for personal purpose or to target any officer individually but to sought information under the Act for the public interest and not to be use for malafide purposes. He appealed the gathering to learn from the resource person and dissemination the information back to their community to combat corruption. Speaking on the theme ‘RTI and the role of Citizens’ the resource person asserted that under RTI no government office even the president and Prime minister’s office is exempted. He informed that RTI Act is the only Indian Act which do not have immunity to President or Prime Minister of India, overwrites any other law for time being in force, does not respect any hierarchy; where the government implements and the citizens supervise the implementation; and reminds that government they are not the master of the public but servant of the people. RTI is very important and popular because of the fact that it is very simple and easy, cheap, time bound, reliable and citizen friendly besides RTI not only access information but citizens also can do inspection of records and works, he added. Imtiakum also appealed to the gathering to know their rights and raise their voice to have transparency and accountability in the Government office and at the same time reminded that while citizens enjoys the rights, they have also duties and obligations. Earlier, welcome address was proposed by the chairperson Robi Sangtam EAC Longleng and vote of thanks was proposed by D. Robin SDO civil Longleng. The highlights of the program were distribution of leaflets on RTI and screening of RTI short film on ‘my rights: my voice’