Press release
United forum for RTI Campaign organised a conference on “RTI Act- Opportunities and Challenges” in Andhra Pradesh Human Resource Development Institute (APHRDI) on 5th September 2019. Speaking on the occasion chief guest, noted RTI Activist and Ramon Magasasy awardee Dr. Sandeep Pandey, said “Right to information act” has changed the citizen’s experience with the government for the better”.
He described in detail, various attempts by different governments in the past to dilute the RTI Act and how they are thwarted by the civil society groups. He condemned the perception among the officials that RTI applicants are black mailers. He expressed his disappointment over the falling standards in RTI implementation in AP which was pioneer in RTI Implementation in the country.
RTI Act created various opportunities to the downtrodden to assert their democratic rights in its 14 year tenure. He appealed to the participants to make use of RTI Act for resolving people’s grievances. The officialdom and the political parties in unison are trying their best to dilute the act.
Sri D.Chakrapani (Director General, APHRDI) who presided over the conference inaugurated the UFRTI-RTI Helpline. RTI applicants, officials can call on 90522 88905 and get their queries around their RTI queries answered. The Helpline is open from 10AM to 6PM.
He appreciated “United forum for RTI Campaign (UFRTI)” for setting up the RTI Helpline. He appealed to RTI Applicants and the officials to make use of RTI Helpline and take the cause forward.
The conference has been attended by RTI Activists and APHRDI trainees.
B.Ramakrishna Raju (Founder member, UFRTI) expressed his grief over increasing cases of attacks on RTI activists and even deaths. He appealed to the government to take measures to protect RTI activists from attacks.
Chakradhar Buddha (Co-Convenor, UFRTI) talked about an initiative called Jansoochna Portal in Rajasthan where the voluntary disclosure of information under RTI Act has been redefined from the perspective of downtrodden people’s information needs.
Prof Sai Babu, Srinivas Goud from UFRTI also spoke.
Chakradhar Buddha Dt-5th September 2019
Ph-92465 22344
Co-Convenor
United forum for RTI Campaign