Dimapur, August 5 (MExN): Chief Information Commissioner Talitemjen Ao today told government officers in an RTI training event in Kohima that ignorance about the processes involved in fulfilling the ideals of Right to Information Act is no excuse.
An RTI training program for officers is underway at the ATI in Kohima, August 4-6, the full bench of the Nagaland Information Commission Chief Information Commissioner P. Talitemjen Ao, IAS (Retd), State Information Commissioners Rev. Dr. W. Pongsing Konyak and Dr. Kuhio Zhimomi along with the Director of ATI, V. Shashank Shekhar, IAS had an interaction with participants.
The CIC said that the RTI Act is to bring about good governance. The commission is concerned about the monitoring and implementation of the RTI in the state including trainings. Ao pointed out that only about one-fifth of the more than 1000 PIOs in the state had attended RTI trainings, and exhorted the participants to sensitize their offices on RTI. Ao said that there is no extension of time under the RTI Act and cautioned about the casual attitude of officers in dealing with RTI matters. Ignorance of the RTI cannot be an excuse, eh reminded. He also suggested the PIOs and APIOs to put up signboards so that citizen can easily identify and submit applications. He emphasized on the distinction of roles between the PIOs and the APIOs.
Both the State Information Commissioners also interacted with the participants. On being asked the about the poor level of attendance of the First Appellate Authorities in trainings, Course Coordinator, W Ezung replied that like most states, the AHODs and HODs in Nagaland are designated as FAA who are ‘usually busy in their normal duties.’ Altogether, 33 officers are attending the RTI training and the training
