RTI convention to debate on wiping out corruption
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 16 April 2013 18:17 IST
Digambar Naik addressing RTI convention press meet
The first ever Right to Information convention is planning to discuss all related issues from wiping out corruption to protection to whistleblowers, this Sunday.
The daylong rural convention is being organised in Madkai by the Goa RTI Forum, in association with Madkai Nagarik Kruti Sangh and Parampai Citizens’ Forum on 21 April.
Shrikant Barve, secretary of the Forum, said the convention would primarily focus on two topics – empowerment of democracy through RTI and eradication of corruption through RTI.
Digambar Naik, the local organizer and founder of Madkai Sangh is expecting around 500 RTI activists from all over the state.
Social activist Aires Rodrigues said the convention would also pass resolutions including immediate appointment of chief information commissioner and state information commissioner, which are vacant for over one and half years.
He also revealed that the state government has identified a Kerala-based retired judge as the Chief Information Commissioner.
He felt that at least one Goan should be selected, probably as the state information commissioner.
“The issue of protection to whistleblowers would also be taken up for discussion”, said Barve.
Motilal Keni, former Goa State Information Commissioner, would inaugurate the convention at 9.30 am, said Nitin Ghaisas, president of the Madkai Sangh.
Two renowned RTI activists from Pune in Maharashtra – 81-year old Major General Sudhir Chintamani Nilkanth Jatar and Vishwas Sahasrabuddhe – will speak at the inaugural session.
Madkai sarpanch Shailendra Panjikar will also attend the convention.
Adv Amrut Kansar, Adv Yatish Naik, Adv Shivaji Desai, Adv Satish Sonak, Adv Albertina Almeida and Swati Kerkar will participate in the morning session – Empowerment of Democracy through RTI.
Similarly, journalist Prakash Kamat, Dr Ketan Govekar, Zarina D’Cunha, Mahesh Naik, Vishwas Sahasrabuddhe and Adv Vandana Jog will speak at the second session – Eradicating corruption through RTI.
The Open Forum would be represented by Aires Rodrigues, Dr Dattaram Desai, Rajan Ghate, Sandeep Heble, Kashinath Shetye and Ganapat Kuttikar.
