Sir/Madam,

Sub:  One day Round Table Symposium on Orissa Rules under RTI Act 2005 at Hotel Keshari, Bhubaneswar on 21.10.05.

Greetings from Right to Food Campaign, Orissa

As you know, we are at a cross-road, where the Right to Information Act 2005 with its promise to make every layer of Governance open, transparent and accountable has already come into force with effect from 12.10.05 on the one hand and the Orissa Rules made there under are out to destroy the very noble objects of the mother Act on the other.

The way the Govt. of Orissa is moving in the matter of operationalising the Act through the arbitrarily formed Rules and Information Commission seems to be not only ultravires of the mother law but also draconian and anti-people reminding us of colonial rule.

Under the circumstances, we felt the imperative need of calling you, the enlightened citizens of  civil society to ponder over the various developments that have taken place centring around Orissa Rules under RTI and so-called constitution of State Information Commission and deliberate on how far our State is moving in the right direction and what needs to be done on the part of the civil society groups to help the State keep to the proper direction for ensuring a citizen-friendly operationalisation of the historic RTI Act in Orissa.

Keeping it in view, a one-day  Round Table Symposium  shall be held at Hotel Keshari on 21.10.05. The programme will start at 10.30AM and continue up to the Lunch at 1.30PM.  The leading figures of both electronic and print  media, legislators, political parties, NGOs, academia, social activists and legal practice are being invited to the Symposium. The deliberations will focus on

- How far the Orissa RTI Rules are in conformity with RTI Act 2005.

- How far the mode of appointment of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner is in conformity with the concerned provisions made under the Act.

- How to bring all exercises concerning Orissa Rules in conformity with the mandate of the RTI Act.

- Strategising the alternative course of action for the civil society to impress the Govt. of Orissa to conduct all their exercises under the RTI Act in conformity with the mandate of the mother law.

I would request you to participate in the deliberations on the occasion and give your valuable suggestions.

With Regards

Pradip Pradhan
Convener

Orissa Right to Food Campaign, Bhubaneswar