Kohima, March 15 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumer Organisation (NVCO) on the sixth day (March 14) of its weeklong celebration of World Consumer Rights Day, emphasized on the Right to Information Act 2005 as “one of the most powerful tools that has been provided to the citizens of the country.”
A press release from NVCO President Kezhokhoto Savi stated that “The object of passing RTI was to secure access to information under the control of public authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of every public authority, curtail corruption and make our democracy work for the people in the real sense.” However, he observed that most of the illiterate people from remote rural areas are still unaware of this right and noted that it is the duty of the informed citizens to educate the people.
“The awareness about the RTI is still lacking in Nagaland however, the NVCO extends its full support to 2-lane Sedzu to Dzulha Aggrieved Property Owners Association (2-LSDAPOA) in promoting RTI and in their fight against corruption. The NVCO was so saddened to see that hundreds of members of 2-lane Sedzu to Dzulha Aggrieved Property Owners Association (2-LSDAPOA) took out a silent rally at Chouzuba town demanding disciplinary action in respect of an alleged obstruction to an RTI application on February 24, 2020,” the press release stated.
The NVCO said it was ‘very unfortunate’ that a mob from various villages in Chozuba sub-division thronged the residence of the RTI applicants “forcing them to withdraw their RTI application and threatened them with life for filing an RTI application at DC office, Phek, Nagaland.”
“It is also learnt that the 2-LSDAPOA found out the amount of INR 17.6 crore was drawn against many non-existing building from their earlier RTI application from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Phek,” the press release stated.
While bringing all these discrepancies to the notice of the state government no action was taken against this serious conduct of corruption, the NVCO stated.
The NVCO questioned as to why the State Government “still remain silent and why the state government did not take any action against the district administration when huge amount of money was sanctioned/release in favour of the many non-existing buildings.”
The NVCO demands the state government to take immediate stern action against the concerned authority/officials who allows fraudulent drawing of huge amount of money which is a clear case of corruption, the press release stated.
