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| IMPA conducts 2 RTI workshops for PIOs in two years ? | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 2: The Government's tall claims of training its officers on Right to Information Act (RTI) have been exposed as mere two (2) RTI workshops / training programmes have been conducted by the Institute of\ Management Public Administration & Rural Development (IMPA) during last 2 years
Details available with Early Times reveal that IMPA while submitting a\ report to General Administration Department (GAD) in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by J&K RTI Movement has admitted that it has conducted only two workshops / training programmes on Right to Information Act (RTI) for designated First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), Public Information Officers (PIOs) & Assistant PIOs (APIOs). During these two workshops mere 42 officers have been trained by the Government through IMPA. "This is so shocking that mere two workshops have been organized by Govt through IMPA in 2016 and 2017. We have no issues with IMPA as it gets funding from Government. We are shocked that in 2011, 2012 and 2013 more than 75 such RTI training workshops were conducted in which more than 2500 officers were trained by the Government but from last 2 years Government has trained only 42 officers of state . This exposes the Government's tall claims of ensuring transparency and accountability " said Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat Founder and Chairman RTI Movement who has filed the PIL in J&K High Court on voluntary disclosure of information and not training Govt officers.
As Government failed to abide by around half a dozen circulars and\ notices of State Information Commission (SIC) on ensuring pro-active disclosure of information under section 4 (1) (b) of J&K RTI Act , the Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement (RTIM) sought judicial intervention by way of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which was heard on April 3rd by Division Bench of J&K High Court at Srinagar. The High Court had sought compliance from General Administration Department (GAD) by May 15th about suomoto disclosure of information under section 4 of JK RTI Act 2009). While submitting a report on May 15th Government had nothing to show except report from IMPA which too has been exposed. GAD has send notice to all the HODs and Deputy Commissioners but nobody responded to the notice of GAD issued on April 17th and April 25th
J&K RTI Movement in its petition prayed before the High Court that petitioner organization is actively engaged in creating awareness about Right to Information Act , its advocacy and implementation across the State of Jammu & Kashmir besides its members in their individual capacities had remained active in getting the legislation\ passed by state legislature right from 2005 when Union Parliament enacted RTI law for the citizens of India (RTI Act 2005). Under Section 4 of J&K RTI Act 2009 Public Authorities had to make voluntary disclosure of information in 120 days of enactment of the act and to create awareness for PIOs and people belonging to disadvantaged communities, but Govt failed to do this. |
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