The Right to Information Act was enacted in 2005 to promote transparency and accountability in government. It relaxed restrictions on information disclosure that were previously imposed by laws like the Official Secrets Act. To effectively exercise rights under the Act, public awareness is important. Various institutions like educational institutions, government bodies, NGOs and the Central Information Commission have undertaken initiatives to educate the public about the Act through workshops, seminars, curriculum inclusion and awareness campaigns using materials like posters, pamphlets and advertisements. Widespread dissemination of information about the public's right to information is necessary to strengthen participatory democracy and good governance.
This presentation on The RTI Act 2005 is for general understanding of the netizens. The act was enacted to upheld Transparency & Accountability in Public offices.
This presentation on The RTI Act 2005 is for general understanding of the netizens. The act was enacted to upheld Transparency & Accountability in Public offices.
NGOs perform ‘public function’ or provide services similar to those provided by the government. Accountability and transparency in the functioning of NGOs is, thus, very important and should be ensured. Therefore, a NGO should function as a public authority under Section 2 (h) of The RTI Act 2005 in case the NGO is substantially financed, directly or indirectly, by funds provided by the appropriate government. Such NGOs should make pro-active disclosure as per Section 4 of the RTI Act on their website.
HAQ: Center for Child Rights
B1/2, Ground Floor,
Malviya Nagar
New Delhi - 110017
Tel: +91-26677412,26673599
Fax: +91-26674688
Website: www.haqcrc.org
FaceBook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HaqCentreForChildRights
Presentation on RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005
HISTORY OF RTI ACT 2005
WHY AND WHAT
WHEN AND WHERE
WHO
HOW
FEES
PROCESS
APPEALS
IMPORTANT SECTIONS
INFORMATION WHICH CANNOT BE SHARED
NGOs perform ‘public function’ or provide services similar to those provided by the government. Accountability and transparency in the functioning of NGOs is, thus, very important and should be ensured. Therefore, a NGO should function as a public authority under Section 2 (h) of The RTI Act 2005 in case the NGO is substantially financed, directly or indirectly, by funds provided by the appropriate government. Such NGOs should make pro-active disclosure as per Section 4 of the RTI Act on their website.
HAQ: Center for Child Rights
B1/2, Ground Floor,
Malviya Nagar
New Delhi - 110017
Tel: +91-26677412,26673599
Fax: +91-26674688
Website: www.haqcrc.org
FaceBook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HaqCentreForChildRights
Presentation on RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005
HISTORY OF RTI ACT 2005
WHY AND WHAT
WHEN AND WHERE
WHO
HOW
FEES
PROCESS
APPEALS
IMPORTANT SECTIONS
INFORMATION WHICH CANNOT BE SHARED
Presentation on Right to Information Act : by Hemant Goswami : Burning Brain Society : at Chandigarh Central State Library, Sector 17, Chandigarh 160017 INDIA
got this in my folder, if you have objection of me posting it here, please inform and i will remove it immediately,
great presentation on rti act 2005,
RTI India -Development factors and the loopholes in itSrikanth Kuthuru
This presentation includes the details about the development in india using RTI , the drawbacks of it and some suggestions for the improvement of the act.
Presentation on Right to Information Act 2005, Provisions are explained for easy implementation for benefit of citizens( end user) and authority who are responsible for delivery of information.
Right to Information Act (RTI) a powerful law enacted in year 2005 for better governance in the country. RTI law is backed by Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India which talks about freedom of speech and expression. For proper usage of this right one should have proper information about the Public Authority. Public Authority carries wider meaning than only government. There are two objectives of RTI Act, 2005, one is to bring transparency and accountability in governance and other one is to setting up of Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commission (SIC) to hear appeals and complaints. There are lot of peculiarities in working of CIC and various SICs. Some state commissions are performing exceptionally well whereas some are lagging behind. Most of the state information commission offices are facing challenges in terms of vacancies which ultimately leading to backlog of appeals and complaints. Second biggest challenge is appointment of efficient Information Commissioners who can dispose cases in effective way and in timely manner. There are Information Commissioners who have given landmarks orders and disposed off large number of cases. Thus we can see the role of information commissioner is crucial for successful implementation of RTI Act, 2005.
Present paper will critically analyze working of Information Commission at central and state level alongwith some important orders delivered by CIC and SIC.
Right to Information Matters Most to Citizens - by Nalaka GunawardeneNalaka Gunawardene
On 11 May 2016, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms & Mass Media convened a meeting with the senior managers of print and broadcasting media house to discuss how media can support the new Right to Information (RTI) law that has recently been tabled in Parliament.
Nearly 15 years in the making, the RTI law is to be debated in June and expected to be adopted with multi-party consensus. The law represents a transformation across government by opening up hitherto closed public information (with certain cleared specified exceptions).
While media can also benefit from RTI, it is primarily a law for ordinary citizens to demand and receive information related to everyday governance (most of it at local levels). For this, citizens need to understand the RTI process and potential benefits. Media can play a major role in explaining RTI law, and promoting its use in many different ways to promote the public interest and to nurture a culture of evidence-based advocacy for good governance and public accountability.
This presentation was made by media researcher and columnist Nalaka Gunawardene in his capacity as a member of the voluntary Right to Information Task Force convened by the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms & Mass Media. He illustrates how RTI can benefit citizens, and shares examples from other South Asian countries where newspapers and broadcast houses have been promoting RTI in innovative ways.
Right to Information (RTI) - South Asian Regional Experiences - by Nalaka Gun...Nalaka Gunawardene
Right to Information (RTI): South Asian Experiences
Presentation by Nalaka Gunawardene, science writer and new media researcher, at the RTI awareness seminar for senior staff of the Parliament of Sri Lanka on 16 August 2016.
Sri Lanka’s Parliament passed the Right to Information (RTI) law on 24 June 2016. Over 15 years in the making, the RTI law represents a potential transformation across the whole government by opening up hitherto closed public information (with certain clearly specified exceptions related to national security, trade secrets, privacy and intellectual property, etc.).
This presentation introduces the concept of citizens’ right to demand and access public information held by the government, and traces the evolution of the concept from historical time. In fact, Indian Emperor Ashoka (who reigned from c. 268 to 232 Before Christ) was the first to grant his subjects the Right to Information (RTI), according to Indian RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak, Coordinator, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). Ashoka had inscribed on rocks all over the Indian subcontinent his government’s policies, development programmes and his ideas on various social, economic and political issues -- including how religious co-existence.
Therefore, adopting an RTI law signifies upholding a great Ashokan tradition in Sri Lanka. The presentation looks at RTI good practices and implementation experiences in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Maldives – all these South Asian countries passed an RTI law before Sri Lanka, and there is much that Sri Lanka can learn from them.
The presentation ends acknowledging the big challenges in implementing RTI in Sri Lanka – reorienting the entire public sector to change its mindset and practices to promote a culture of information sharing and transparent government.
RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005 ,FULL THEORY-MANPREET SINGH (B.COM)MANPREETSINGHPANESAR1
Right to information act 2005, all theory considered features ,merits ,demerits and functions etc.in briefly explained in this content . thanks for viewing this topic and do not forget to hit the like button ....
The Challenges of Implementing Freedom of Information Act by the Civil Societ...Triple A Research Journal
The study was carried out to determine the challenges and difficulties encountered by the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos State, while utilising the FoIA to access information. The study was predicated on two theories – Public Sphere, and Social Responsibility theories. The objectives, among other things, were to investigate and evaluate the duration odd time expended in accessing information under the FoIA and the challenges and difficulties encountered, while utilizing the FoIA. Interview schedule was used to elicit information from the three CSOs – SERAP, CLO, MRA purposively selected. Analysis revealed that the CSOs in Lagos state encountered challenges and difficulties in the areas of procedure, release of information, and the effect of the Official Secret Act 1962, amongst others. The study also found out, that majority of the information accessed under the FoIA by the CSOs in Lagos state were accessed outside the seven (7) days’ timeframe stipulated by the FoIA in Section 4. Based on the forgoing, it was recommended, amongst others, that the difficulties and challenges identified by this study should be, urgently, presented or tabled before the appropriate quarters – Attorney general, who the law imbued with the supervisory function over the implementation of the FoIA; and to the National Assembly for amendment.
Keywords: Civil Society Organisations, Challenges, Freedom of Information Act, Implementation
The Challenges of Implementing Freedom of Information Act by the Civil Societ...Triple A Research Journal
The study was carried out to determine the challenges and difficulties
encountered by the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos State,
while utilising the FoIA to access information. The study was
predicated on two theories - Public Sphere, and Social Responsibility
theories. The objectives, among other things, were to investigate and
evaluate the duration odd time expended in accessing information
under the FoIA and the challenges and difficulties encountered, while
utilizing the FoIA. Interview schedule was used to elicit information
from the three CSOs – SERAP, CLO, MRA purposively selected.
Analysis revealed that the CSOs in Lagos state encountered
challenges and difficulties in the areas of procedure, release of
information, and the effect of the Official Secret Act 1962, amongst
others. The study also found out, that majority of the information
accessed under the FoIA by the CSOs in Lagos state were accessed
outside the seven (7) days’ timeframe stipulated by the FoIA in
Section 4. Based on the forgoing, it was recommended, amongst
others, that the difficulties and challenges identified by this study
should be, urgently, presented or tabled before the appropriate
quarters – Attorney general, who the law imbued with the supervisory
function over the implementation of the FoIA; and to the National
Assembly for amendment.
Keywords: Civil Society Organisations, Challenges, Freedom of
Information Act, Implementation
Disclosure of information about government actions and spending puts government and public officials under the constant watch of the public, allowing them to track what resources are spent, who contracts are awarded to and so on.
When designing proactive disclosure systems or voluntary disclosure has five principles governments should follow. Information needs to be: available, findable, comprehensible, low cost or free, up-to-date and relevant.
Transparency and Accountability in Ggovernance in IndiaDr Lendy Spires
Civil society organisations (CSOs), consisting of non-state, non-political, citizen initiatives, often with a focus on the needs of specific groups among the poor (such as the Scheduled Castes), have been active in India for many years. One root for this activism can be traced to developments after the Emergency of 1974-75 when fundamental rights were suspended for a brief period. Civil society, in a spontaneous but un-coordinated reaction, stood up for the defence of fundamental rights against the Emergency and worked to overthrow the government that imposed the emergency in the elections that followed Introduction 1
A major issue that has engaged civil society attention is corruption. India ranks low on the Transparency International Index. Many believe that corruption is now deep rooted in Indian society and is the main obstacle to economic growth. There is talk of a ‘criminal-politician’ nexus; many elected representatives have been accused of serious crimes. Since then it has blossomed in many ways. 2 Over the last ten years, civil society organisations have demanded transparency—understood as timely access to reliable and relevant information—as a prerequisite to accountability in governance. Civil society has also begun to demand that its views be considered in the formulation of policies and programmes, in the implementation of programmes, and in social audit, especially of those programs meant for the poor.
Institutions to fight corruption—the Central Vigilance Commission, the Lok Ayuktas—have been set up. Civil society has made considerable gains in this area. For example, by taking recourse to the courts and winning its case, civil society has now made it mandatory for anyone standing for election to declare their assets and disclose if any criminal cases are pending against them. It is a big step forward, but there is still much to be done in the area of electoral reforms.
NORMES INTERNATIONALES SUR LA TRANSPARENCE ET LA RESPONSABILISATIONJamaity
Produit en collaboration avec le Centre pour le droit et la démocratie, ce document d'information se fonde sur deux sources de droit mous et durs pour illustrer les fondements du droit international en matière de transparence et de responsabilité.
Right to Information acts as a great tool to effect transparency and fix accountability on the concerned public authorities. We must understand how to file RTI to get empowered
2. Right to Information Act, 2005 it comes
into force on the 12th October 2005 (120th
day of enactment on 15th June, 2005).
Information disclosure in India was until
then restricted by the Official Secrets Act,
1923 and various other special laws, which
the new RTI Act now relaxes.
3. “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles by
it.”
WHAT DOES INFORMATION MEAN?
'Information' as a term has been derived from the Latin
words 'Formation' and 'Forma' which means giving
shape to something and forming a pattern respectively.
Information means any material in any form including
records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices,
press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts,
reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in
any electronic form and relating to any private body
which can be accessed by a public authority under any
other law for the time being in force but does not include
"file noting" [S.2(f)].
4. WHAT DOES RIGHT TO INFORMATION MEAN?
It includes the right to
i. Inspect works, documents, and records.
ii. Take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or
records.
iii. Take certified samples of material.
iv. Obtain in form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes,
video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or
through printouts. [S.2 (j)].
5. WHY PUBLIC AWARENESS?
• Right to Information is a Peoples Right.
• People have to use the Act for it to be effective
• By creating an informed public, the Government will
ensure that the Act is used actively and effectively
6. THE NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF RIGHT TO
INFORMATION
Knowledge is power and freedom of information
is vital to the advancement of knowledge
society.
The right to information has been recognized as a
fundamental human right, which upholds the
inherent dignity of all human beings. The right
to information forms the crucial underpinning of
participatory democracy - it is essential to ensure
accountability and good governance.
7. CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES IN RESPECT
TO RIGHT TO INFORMATION
• As early as in 1976, the Supreme Court said in the
case of Raj Narain vs State of UP, that people
cannot speak or express themselves unless they
know. In the same case, Supreme Court further said
that India is a democracy. People are the masters.
Therefore, the masters have a right to know how the
governments, meant to serve them, are functioning.
These three principles were laid down by the
Supreme Court while saying that RTI is a part of our
fundamental rights.
8. • Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution guarantees the
fundamental rights to free speech and expression.
The prerequisite for enjoying this right is knowledge
and information.
• Therefore, the Right to Information becomes a
constitutional right, being an aspect of the right to
free speech and expression which includes the right
to receive and collect information.
• This will also help the citizens perform their
fundamental duties as set out in Article 51A of the
Constitution. A fully informed citizen will certainly
be better equipped for the performance of these
duties. Thus, access to information would assist
citizens in fulfilling these obligations.
9. IF RTI IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT, THEN WHY
DO WE NEED AN ACT TO GIVE US THIS RIGHT?
we need a machinery or a process through which we
can exercise this fundamental right. Right to
Information Act 2005, which became effective on
13th October 2005, provides that machinery.
Therefore, Right to Information Act does not give us
any new right. It simply lays down the process on
how to apply for information, where to apply, how
much fees etc.
10. In S P Gupta vs. Union of India AIR 1982 SC (149),
Popularly known as Judges case. The Supreme
Court by a generous interpretation of the
guarantee of freedom of speech and expression
elevated the right to know and the right to
information to the status of a fundamental
right, on the principle that certain
unarticulated rights are immanent and
implicit in the enumerated guarantees.
11. Recently in Union of India v. Association for
Democratic Reforms(2002).
The court held that the freedom of speech and
expression includes right to impart and receive
information which includes freedom to hold
opinions, and therefore, covers right to get material
information with regard to a candidate who is
contesting election for a post which is of utmost
importance in the democracy.
12. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMMES SECTION- 26 of RTI Act 2005
• 26. (1) The appropriate Government may, to the
extent of availability of financial and other
resources,— (a) develop and organise educational
programmes to advance the understanding of the
public, in particular of disadvantaged
communities as to how to exercise the rights
contemplated under this Act;
• (b) encourage public authorities to participate in
the development and organisation of programmes
referred to in clause (a) and to undertake such
programmes themselves;
13. • (c) promote timely and effective
dissemination of accurate information by
public authorities about their activities;
and
• (d) train Central Public Information
Officers or State Public Information
Officers, as the case may be, of public
authorities and produce relevant training
materials for use by the public authorities
themselves.
14. SOME OBLIGATION LIES ON THE
GOVERNMENT
• Undertaken many campaign, either in
electronic or in print media for making
RTI popular among people
• Develop and organize educational
programmes to advance the
understanding of the public, in particular
of disadvantaged communities
15. NOW WE DISCUSS ABOUT VARIOUS INSTITUTION
IN SPREADING AWARENESS ABOUT RTI ACT 2005
This legislation provides opportunities to Civil
Society Organizations(CSOs) to be involved in
governance and social transformation processes
by using the Act as a weapon to monitor, review
and evaluate Government policies, programmes
and schemes.
16. The mass awareness campaign in Andhra Pradesh was
implemented with the joint efforts of the United Forum
for Right to Information (AP) and the Centre for Good
Governance. In the year of 2007
Associated with Human Rights Law Network (HRLN),
Social Educational and Economical Development Society
(SEEDS)
17. The Haryana Institute of Public
Administration, Gurgaon in association with
IC Centre for Governance, New Delhi
organized a Workshop on Right to
Information on 17.11.2006
Again National Campaign for People’s
Right to Information (NCPRI) seeks to
empower people and to deepen democracy,
through promoting people’s right to
information.
18. The department is concerned with
primary, secondary and teacher
education in Andhra Pradesh.
Commissioner/Director of School
Education is the Head of the Department
of School Education to give information
under rule 4(1)(b) of Right to
Information Act 2005.
19. • Objectives
To provide access to school education to all the children in
the age group of 5 – 15 Years.
To enroll all school age children in the Schools.
To ensure quality in Education.
DEVELOPING A BASIC PLAN FOR RAISING PUBLIC
AWARENESS ON RTI AND THE RTI ACT 2005 (JULY
2005)
Identifying Partners
Government
Information & Publicity Directorate : to take a lead
on disseminating information on RTI to all
Departments.
20. Universities
Urban : Cities . Municipal Councils,
Housing Societies,Cooperative Societies etc
Rural : Villages .Panchayati Raj Institutions:
village pradhans, elders etc,
Youth : Cities & Villages via government
and local schools (pathshalas, madrasas),
Universities, Training Institutes
Senior and Secondary High Schools,
Universities
21. • Public Education Materials
• Print (Newspapers, Journals): Weekly press
releases updating on progress.
• RTI in school and university curriculum.
The Central Information Commission
organized the National Convention on
Right to Information on completion of one
year of its enforcement at Vigyan Bhavan,
New Delhi during October 13 to 15, 2006.
22. Recently in the year of 2008 held a
workshop in Uttarakhand. On the 12 and
13th of October 2008 the Mountain
Children’s Foundation and Asha for
Education, Silicon Valley (Asha SV) held
a workshop with 72 children from 18
different partner organizations all over
Uttarakhand.
23. WHAT TO DO FOR SPREADING AWARENESS OF RTI
ACT 2005 BY THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION AS
WELL AS OTHERS INSTITUTIONS
Users Guide, Articles,Advertisements,Posters,
Pamphlets etc.
School,Curriculum,debates,competitions etc.
Make various workshops ( like District Level
Workshops on Right to Information (RTI)Madhya
Pradesh, September 2005)
Organised campaign in many places rural as well as
urban area
24. Organised seminar on RTI Act in many educational
institution and also in many other institutions etc.(.(like
Regional Seminar on Right to Information Jointly
organized by MEDIA INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION CENTRE OF INDIA )
Making Various Aviyan regarding RTI Act (Madhya Pradesh
Suchna Ka Adhikar Abhiyan, led by an NGOnamed Sandhan )
Making Various Aviyan regarding RTI Act (Madhya Pradesh
Suchna Ka Adhikar Abhiyan, led by an NGOnamed Sandhan )
Right to Information Awareness through Quiz (Quizzing
section at RTI India Portal. The purpose is to bring about
awareness and improve the knowledge of the community,
Sep 2006 Location: New Delhi)
25. Lastly we now say that this right is important not
only for the exercise of political and civil rights
but also social and economic rights. Independent
information is also important for the people to
make informed choices. Now we should think
broadly that it is the one of the obligation
educational institution as well as Government
and other institution and NGO’s in spreading
awareness about right to information act-2005