RTI brought accountability and transparency in Meghalaya govt.

Shillong, Sep 14 (UNI) Meghalaya Information and Public Relations Minister, Elstone D Marak today urged the people to derive maximum benefit from the Right to Information Act enacted by the Central government to make the administration more transparent and accountable.

It is noteworthy that Meghalaya is one of the few states of the country, where the RTI movement has taken a momentum bringing accountability and transparency in the government business.

Taking part in the concluding technical session of the Public Information Campaign launched by the Press Information Bureau at Umiam in Ri Bhoi district, Mr Marak deliberated on the significance of the RTI Act said that the UPA Government has taken several people friendly and development oriented schemes for the benefit of the people.

He urged the people to create awareness about those schemes and also associate themselves in implementation of the same.

Meghalaya Chief Information Commissioner, G P Wahlang, delivering his speech said public authorities work for the people and therefore, people have the right to know the activities and their outcome.

Mr Wahlang said the RTI Act provides a person the right to inspect records and documents including notings and also to get copies if required after payment of a nominal fee.

Pointing out that the Act is the only one of its kind where a government officer may be fined for neglect in providing information, the Chief Information Commissioner said the Act has given enormous power to the people to become watch dogs of the departmental functioning of the government.

State Director of Information and Public Relations Mr P S Dkhar, who also addressed the gathering, said the Act became effective from October last year and in Meghalaya, his department has been made the nodal department in respect of the Act.

He informed that the state government has already set up the organization to provide information sought by people.

Four workshops to train the officials and personnel were held to ensure that correct information was provided by the officials. The DIPR has also instituted a separate information cell for the convenience of the people, he added.

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