PIB's awareness campaign on RTI launched in HP

Shimla, Sep 18 (UNI) Asserting that the Right to Information (RTI) Act had been implemented in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today launched a five-day awareness campaign in Sirmaur district of the state to spread awareness among the masses about it.

''Himachal was among the first states of the country to implement the Act besides appointing a senior officer with the powers of the Supreme Court Judge to oversee its implementation,'' he said after launching the five-day awareness campaign under the Bharat Nirman Yojna at Dhaula Kuan in the district.

Mr Singh said his government had also appointed Assistant Information Officers at the district level to assist the officer, adding that efforts were on to implement the Act in the right earnest.

Sirmour and Chamba districts of the state had been included under the Rastriya Sam Vikas Yojna and National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme for eradication of poverty for these districts, he said.

He said the Press Information Bureau (PIB) campaign for spreading awareness would educate the people about the Right to Information Act.

The State Information Commission, established by the government, has been empowered to requisition any information from any department under the Act to bring about transparency in the functioning of the Government, he said.

The chief minister said his government had launched the Indira Gandhi Awas Yojna during his earlier tenure and 80,000 houses were allotted to the eligible poor and down trodden families under the scheme.

The new Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna, which provides for constructing 30,000 houses for the poor families, had also been launched in the state, he said, adding that several others schemes were being implemented.

State Revenue Minister Sat Mahajan, who was also present on the occasion, said had provided 33 per cent reservation for women in the Panchayati Raj system, which had been a success in the state.

Speaking on the occasion Director General Media and Communication, Deepok Sandhu, said 120 such awareness campaigns were being organised in the state.

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