Seminar on Right to Information Act 2005 at Nimapara in Puri district on 6th of December under the aegis of Jagyeswari Jubak Sangha

Seminar on Right to Information Act 2005 at Nimapara in Puri district

on 6^th of December under the aegis of Jagyeswari Jubak Sangha

sponsored by CASA ( Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action)

A Block level Seminar on Right to Information Act 2005 was held at Nimapara in Puri district on 6^th of December under the aegis of Jagyeswari Jubak Sangha sponsored by CASA ( Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action) Banamalipur, in which persons from various walks of life such as PRIs, NGOs, SHGs, media, Govt Offices, educational institutions and Bar actively participated by way of giving their views and opinions on the subject.

The Seminar was inaugurated by the Tahsildar Nimapara Sri Debabrat Jena, who was also the Chief Guest on the occasion. Sri Jena in his talk fully upheld the view that any Rule made under an Act can’t overrule the letter and spirit of the latter, and therefore the Orissa RTI Rules, which if found faulty on that score requires to be amended and brought in correspondence with the RTI Act 05, which is the parent law.

The introductory and welcome note was given by Sri Nakul Ch. Swain, the Secretary Jagnyeswari Jubak Sangha. The Resource Person on the occasion was Sri Pradip Pradhan, Convener Orissa Right to Food Campaign, which is now spearheading the movement against the faulty Rules framed by the Govt of Orissa under the RTI Act. Sri Pradhan explained in detail how the Orissa RTI Rules is not only anti-people but also ultra vires the parent law RTI Act 2005.

Sri A.Prakash speaking on behalf of CASA Banamalipur tpld the house that the poor and downtrodden sections of people among which the CASA works are supposed to be benefited a lot if the RTI Act is implemented properly. And that is why CASA is promoting an awareness campaign through such events as Seminars and Workshops at grass root level on RTI Act and Orissa RTI Rules.

The other speakers on the occasion were Sri Govind Ch. Nayak, Convener Dhanua Surakshya Manch, Sri Osid Ahmed Khan Lecturer Nimapara College and Sri Suvendu Routray President Nimapara Bar Association.

It was decided that a Memorandum shall be addressed to the Governor Orissa with intimation to the concerned authorities at Centre and in the State requesting them to ensure and early amendment of the Orissa RTI Rules in the larger interest of smooth operationalisation of RTI Act in the State.