Pass Uttarkhand Lokayukta in this session: RTI Convention
ANIL LAAD, MADKAI | 21 April 2013 14:55 IST
The first rural All Goa RTI Convention held in Madkai today has demanded that the Goa Lokayukta act be amended on the lines of Uttarakhand bill, as promised by chief minister Manohar Parrikar, in this Assembly session itself.
The gathering of RTI activists from all over the state expressed anguish over retraction by Parrikar on his earlier promise to amend the Lokayukta act based on a draft sent by nationally renowned lawyer activist Adv Prashant Bhushan.
He had told goanews.com that he would not able to take up the amendment on the lines of Uttarakhand in this session.
The RTI convention, organised by the Madkai Nagarik Kruti Samiti, was today inaugurated by former Goa Chief Information Commissioner Motilal Keni.
The convention was attended by around 200 people including RTI activists, NGOs and other citizens.
The convention passed 10 different resolutions, in order to strengthen the RTI movement and transparency in the government administration, in order to wipe out corruption and make the state administration accountable to the people.
Following are the resolutions:
1. Pass in the current Assembly session the Goa Lokayukta Act on the lines of RTI-friendly Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act.
2. Immediately appoint the Goa State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioner in a very transparent manner and in accordance with law.
3. Oppose any move by the Central government to effect any amendments which would dilute the essence of the Right to information Act 2005.
4. Ensure proper implementation of Sec 4 of the RTI Act in letter and spirit to ensure total transparency and accountability as envisaged in the RTI Act.
5. Every Panchayat and Municipality in the State of Goa should have a website and that it should be regularly updated.
6. Take all steps possible to ensure that RTI activists are protected from physical attacks, victimization and retribution.
7. Have 50% women Public Information Officers in all Government offices.
8. Take immediate steps, like Bihar, to allow applications under the Right to Information Act to be accepted over the telephone and requisite application fees may be charged and recovered through the telephone bill.
9. Make available cash balance/ availability of funds of Government departments, Panchayats and Municipalities on their respective websites on a weekly basis.
10. Take appropriate steps in preparing a model Sports Bill, covering within its scope and ambit, applicability of RTI Act to sports associations, age & tenure clauses, representations to sports persons in the Executive Committee, independent Lokayukta for addressing corruption issues in sports bodies, grievance redressal systems and other issues of importance related to sports administration.
