Dimapur, October 29 (MExN): A three days training on the Right to Information Act (RTI) for district resource persons began on October 29 at Circuit House, Dimapur. The main focus of the training is to bring up capacities of government servants and the public as well. Briefing the trainees, Nodal Officer, Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Kohima said, “RTI is a special act because it does not have immunity for the President or the Prime Minister of India, nor does it respect hierarchy. It is the act where Government implements and the citizens supervise.”
The RTI Act is being translated into local dialects and December 10 has been set as the last date for its submission. Rongsen Longkumer, research coordinator, ATI spoke about the concepts and salient features of the Act. “Sweden was the first country to implement the right to information and it no wonder why that it is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. RTI has been around in the form ‘freedom of speech & “expression’ under art. 19(1) a, of the Indian constitution. It is a fundamental right.” he said.
RTI is the remedy for good governance that can help secure human well being and sustainable development. The Act came into being on December 10, 2005, but in Nagaland it still not active although it has been implemented in Dimapur and Mokokchung. Rongsen added, “Departments had been given till December 31, 2005 to appoint APIO’s and PIO’s but in Nagaland it is still inactive.” RTI act covers the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir.
