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RTI Pend, the grassroots initiative aimed at democratizing access to information, hosted its 2nd event in Kupwara. On the request of the Civil Rights Movement Kupwara, this event was tailored to enlighten the people of Kupwara with the intricacies of the Right to Information Act, presented in their local language and dialects. The event successfully bridged both offline and online participation, addressing queries on the spot and offering applicants practical solutions.During this informative event, a comprehensive discussion unfolded, focusing on various facets of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Special attention was given to sub-section j of section 8 of the Central RTI Act 2005, which pertains to personal information and its potential misuse by Public Authorities.
The event took place at Batargam, Kupwara, at the behest of Akhtar Ali, a prominent activist and District Coordinator of the J&K RTI Foundation and the Founder of the Civil Rights Movement. The primary goal was to sensitize the community, particularly the youth, and equip them with the knowledge and tools to harness the power of the RTI Act for personal and communal welfare.
RTI Pend, a weekly initiative hosted every Sunday from 10 AM to 11 AM, is spearheaded by Irfan Banka, an Anthropologist and the Founder of J&K RTI Foundation. The journey commenced with the inaugural RTI Pend event in Magam, District Budgam, on September 10, 2023.
The core objective of RTI Pend is to conduct informal events in the local language to educate and assist individuals in filing RTI applications, ultimately contributing to the betterment of society. Akhtar Ali passionately urged the youth of Kupwara to join hands with the Civil Rights Movement and J&K RTI Foundation, empowering themselves to claim their rights.
Furthermore, it was observed that among the districts of Jammu and Kashmir, Kupwara has the least utilization of the RTI Act. This emphasizes the need for intensified efforts to disseminate information regarding the application of the RTI Act, along with other pivotal acts such as PSGA, and to enhance awareness about individual rights under MGNREGA.
Irfan Banka, the event host, extended his heartfelt appreciation to all participants and the technical team, which included the contributions of Journalist Ishfaq Majeed and Er. Aqib Bashir of RTI Pend. He reiterated the commitment of RTI Pend to focus initially on RTI Act awareness and events across every district, ensuring that every common citizen comprehends the significance of the RTI Act and maximizes its potential for the greater good.
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