PCMC Should Hold RTI Day for Citizens, Says Satish Kale
Pimpri-Chinchwad : The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) should organise a special public awareness programme on Right to Information (RTI) Day to educate citizens about their rights under the RTI Act, said Sambhaji Brigade Pimpri-Chinchwad city president Satish Kale.
Kale has submitted a written representation to the municipal commissioner, urging the civic administration to organise the programme for citizens instead of limiting RTI Day activities to training sessions for officers and employees.
The Right to Information Act is an important legislation that enables citizens to seek information about the functioning of government authorities. According to government directions, RTI Day is observed every year in government offices, with activities such as quizzes, discussions, lectures and other awareness programmes suggested to educate citizens about the Act.
Kale said the civic administration should ensure that the observance does not remain restricted to RTI officers and employees. Since the RTI Act concerns the rights of ordinary citizens, awareness about its provisions and procedures should reach the wider public, he said.
He has proposed that PCMC organise the programme with the participation of citizens, social organisations, students and voluntary organisations. The programme should provide practical guidance on the RTI application process, citizens’ rights and the responsibilities of public authorities, according to the representation.
“RTI should not remain merely a law on paper. The municipal administration needs to undertake wider awareness initiatives so that ordinary citizens can use the law easily,” Kale said in the representation.
The representation was signed by Satish Kale, city president of Sambhaji Brigade, and executive president Vishal Mithe.
