Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan’s RTI camp in Rourkela from Aug 21

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 19:

Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA), a state-level network of civil society groups and RTI activists spearheading campaign for effective implementation of Right to Information Act in the state, will be organizing a 3-day RTI Awareness Camp on the “Right to Information Act” from August 21 to 23 at the Municipality College, Rourkela.

The Camp will be inaugurated by Justice Choudhury Pratap Keshari Misra, former Judge, Odisha High Court.

Eminent journalist Rabi Das and senior Odisha High Court lawyer Khirod Rout will grace the occasion as guest speakers.

Rabindra Nath Mishra, ADM, Rourkela, Principal of the Municipal College and others dignitaries will grace the occasion, said a release by the OSAA.

The release said, while the RTI has generated a lot of enthusiasm among the masses it is important for them to know their rights, benefits and expectations from the government and semi-government institutions.

Even after 67 years of Independence, the delivery of justice, good governance and benefits of various welfare programs have not reached the people at large, the release noted..

It is a travesty of justice that people living in the rural pockets have, so far, little knowledge of or information about RTI and therefore they continue to suffer at the hands of unscrupulous and corrupt law-enforcing agencies and officials, the release added.

In view of this, the OSAA ” felt it proper to hold a training camp and educate the practitioners, students, youths, retired government officials and Public Information Officers” to enable them make proper application of the provisions of the Act and ensure that the benefits of the RTI reaches “the down-trodden people who are languishing in the society.”

200 Volunteers, students from colleges and universities, RTI workers are expected to participate in the training programme, the Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan release said, adding, it has extended an open invitation to all to participate in the programme and take the opportunity to get trained on the provisions under the RTI.

The Abhijan has taken a number of programmes to sensitise people, volunteers, students, youths, activists and NGO, government officials on RTI in different parts of Odisha since last the 9 years.