Activists join hands to form state Right to Information Council

http://www.hindustantimes.com/tabloid-news/mumbai/Activists-join-hands-to-form-state-Right-to-Information-Council/Article1-619715.aspx

Activists join hands to form state Right to Information Council

HT Correspondent,Hindustan Times
Email Author
Mumbai, October 30, 2010

Right to information activists in the state are fighting hard to
invest people with more power, but sometimes they pay the price of
their daredevilry with their lives. In order to add more muscle to
their movement, activists from across the state have come together to
form the Maharashtra Right to Information Council. The move aims to
put an end to the complaints from activists about authorities
subverting the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, as well as reduce
the spate of attacks on activists.

RTI activist Bhaskar Prabhu, convener of the council, said: "The main
aim of the council is to keep a check on the proper implementation of
the act, especially by public authorities."

This comes close on the heels of a protest conducted by city activists
against the appointment of the state chief information commissioner
and other information commissioners. Alleging a non-transparent
selection procedure, activists had demanded that the process be
changed to have more accountability and public participation in the
process.

Another issue on the council's agenda is the increasing number of
attacks on RTI activists.

The Hindustan Times had reported that Maharashtra had the highest
number of attacks on activists. "The council will try devising a
mechanism of offering protection and safeguarding activists," said
Prabhu. "We will also have a coordinator and committees in every
district to ensure that such objectives are met." The council has
appointed 13 co-coordinators in Mumbai and a few in Pune, Nashik, and
Satara

Prabhu said the council would also focus on conducting social audits
of welfare schemes, especially those meant for families below poverty
line. This would include the public distribution system and the
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

--
Urvashi Sharma

RTI Helpmail( Web Based )
aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

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8081898081 ( 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. )