J&amp;K RTI Foundation highlights the importance of access to information in the digital era

J&K RTI Foundation highlights the importance of access to information in the digital era

International Day for Universal Access to Information celebrated in Magam: A J&K RTI Foundation note:

***

Magam, Jammu and Kashmir - September 28, 2023 - On September 28, 2023, the J&K RTI Foundation celebrated the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) with great enthusiasm and participation. The event, held in Magam, witnessed an engaged audience both in-person and via Zoom, highlighting the importance of access to information in the digital era.
IDUAI is globally recognized as a day to emphasize the crucial role of access to information in empowering individuals, promoting transparency, and fostering informed decision-making. The United Nations General Assembly designated September 28 as IDUAI in 2019, following the lead of UNESCO, which had established this observance in 2015.
Irfan Banka, Anthropologist and Founder of J&K RTI Foundation, stressed this year's theme, "the importance of the online space for access to information." He drew attention to the J&K Government's efforts in making 1028 services available online and urged for the provision of Online RTI Facilities (e-RTI Service) to enable citizens to exercise their right to information efficiently in the digital age.
Sheikh Maqbool, Columnist and Co-founder of J&K RTI Foundation, reiterated the organization's commitment to the goals of the Right to Information Act, emphasizing the need for widespread awareness about this fundamental right.
Sajad Hussain, Co-founder of J&K RTI Foundation, asserted that the Right to Information is an essential right, and citizens should actively exercise it to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.
Aaqib Bashir and Ishfaq Majeed, members of RTI Pend, showcased the pivotal role of the RTI Pend initiative in raising awareness about the Right to Information among the public.

***

On October 1st 2023 were brought together RTI activists, leaders, and community members to discuss and advocate for the effective implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Distinguished guests, including Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Dar and Mr. Shakeel ur Rasool, prominent RTI activists, and Mr. Sajad Hussain, Co-founder of J&K RTI Foundation, shared their insights on the transformative power of RTI in bringing transparency and accountability to governance.

During the event, Mr. Irfan Banka, host of RTI Pend, emphasized the need for widespread awareness about the RTI Act. He urged citizens to actively participate in Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections, underlining the role of educated youth in shaping a more transparent and accountable governance system. He also requested the government to launch an e-RTI portal for the public as soon as possible as the government has already made 1028 services online as per reports.

Mr. Shakeel ur Rasool shed light on how RTI has played a crucial role in obtaining information related to Wullar and fishermen communities. He encouraged the youth of Bandipora to leverage RTI to contribute to societal well-being.

Mr. Sajad Hussain delineated the differences between the Central RTI Act 2005 and the erstwhile J&K RTI Act 2009, expressing concern about the confusion created in J&K, particularly by some government officials. He emphasized the importance of clarity in the application of RTI laws.

Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Dar appealed to the educated youth to file RTIs related to government schemes and initiatives, contributing to the dissemination of essential information for greater transparency.

The event also showcased the pivotal role of Technical Directors, Mr. Ishfaq Majeed, and Mr. Aaqib Bashir, in making RTI Pend events successful.

Besides offline participation, the event was also live-streamed on Facebook and Zoom, providing a wider audience with valuable insights into the RTI Act. RTI Pend continues to be a beacon of awareness and advocacy, committed to fostering a culture of transparency and informed decision-making.

Comments

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

What's behind Donald Trump's 'narco-state' accusation against Venezuela

By Manolo De Los Santos The US government has revived its campaign to label Venezuela a "narco-state", accusing its top leadership of drug trafficking and slapping hefty bounties on their heads for capture. This campaign, which only momentarily took a backseat, is a strategic fabrication, not a factual assessment. This accusation, particularly amplified under the Trump Administration, is a calculated smokescreen to justify a long-standing agenda: the overthrow of the Venezuelan government and the seizure of its vast oil and mineral resources. A closer examination of the facts reveals a country that has actively fought drug trafficking on its own terms and a US government with a clear and consistent history of destabilizing independent countries in Latin America.

1857 War of Independence... when Hindu-Muslim separatism, hatred wasn't an issue

"The Sepoy Revolt at Meerut", Illustrated London News, 1857 By Shamsul Islam* Large sections of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs unitedly challenged the greatest imperialist power, Britain, during India’s First War of Independence which began on May 10, 1857; the day being Sunday. This extraordinary unity, naturally, unnerved the firangees and made them realize that if their rule was to continue in India, it could happen only when Hindus and Muslims, the largest two religious communities were divided on communal lines.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Two more "aadhaar-linked" Jharkhand deaths: 17 die of starvation since Sept 2017

Kaleshwar's sons Santosh and Mantosh Counterview Desk A fact-finding team of the Right to Feed Campaign, pointing towards the death of two more persons due to starvation in Jharkhand, has said that this has happened because of the absence of aadhaar, leading to “persistent lack of food at home and unavailability of any means of earning.” It has disputed the state government claims that these deaths are due to reasons other than starvation, adding, the authorities have “done nothing” to reduce the alarming state of food insecurity in the state.

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

Ground reality: Israel would a remain Jewish state, attempt to overthrow it will be futile

By NS Venkataraman* Now that truce has been arrived at between Israel and Hamas for a period of four days and with release of a few hostages from both sides, there is hope that truce would be further extended and the intensity of war would become significantly less. This likely “truce period” gives an opportunity for the sworn supporters and bitter opponents of Hamas as well as Israel and the observers around the world to introspect on the happenings and whether this war could have been avoided. There is prolonged debate for the last several decades as to whom the present region that has been provided to Jews after the World War II belong. View of some people is that Jews have been occupants earlier and therefore, the region should belong to Jews only. However, Christians and those belonging to Islam have also lived in this regions for long period. While Christians make no claim, the dispute is between Jews and those who claim themselves to be Palestinians. In any case...

Fate of Yamuna floodplain still hangs in "balance" despite National Green Tribunal rap on Sri Sri event

By Ashok Shrimali* While the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday reportedly pulled up the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for granting permission to hold spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival on the banks of Yamuna, the chief petitioners against the high-profile event Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan has declared, the “fate of the floodplain still hangs in balance.”

Counterview

Search This Blog