Women gear up as Ghate fast enters 5th day
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 20 July 2013 17:06 IST
Rajan Ghate on 5th day of his fast
Goa RTI Forum has decided to mobilize people from all over Goa to support RTI activist Rajan Ghate, who is sitting on indefinite hunger strike, demanding appointment of information commissioners.
To begin with, social activist Swati Kerkar has appealed to all women to gather at Azad Maidan in Panaji, where Ghate is sitting on indefinite fast.
As he entered the fifth day today Ghate reaffirmed to continue his indefinite hunger strike till the government declares names of information commissioners to be appointed.
RTI Forum secretary Shrikant Barve told goanews.com that they would intensify the mobilization at Azad Maidan from next week with more and more prominent leaders and groups in different spheres visiting Ghate.
He has also appealed to the people to pledge their support also by sending email at secretary@goartiforum.org or at Ghate’s mobile 09326221725.
He has lost four kilograms in last five days, but appeared determined to fight till the end.
Though doctor today said Ghate is fine and healthy, his RTI colleagues in a meeting held at Azad Maidan demanded that the meeting of three-member high level committee be preponed.
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar had recently announced that the committee would meet on 29 July to finalise the names of Central Information Commissioner (CIC) and State Information Commissioner (SIC).
Ghate had postponed his plan to sit on indefinite hunger strike after Parrikar had announced on 23 April in the Assembly that the commissioners would be appointed within a month.
He however went ahead with his decision and started his fast from 16 July at Azad Maidan in Panaji as no commissioner was appointed for three months, after CM’s announcement.
The high level committee consists of Parrikar, opposition leader Pratapsing Rane and deputy chief minister Francisco D’Souza.
Several RTI activists, while pledging their support to Ghate, repeatedly demanded that the meeting be preponed to next week to end the impasse.
Ghate however said he would not withdraw his fast until the committee announces the names.
Besides RTI activists belonging to the Goa RTI Forum, several other leaders also visited Azad Maidan to support the cause Ghate is sitting for.
It included green activist Dr Claude Alvares, Congress MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, former MLA Babuso Gaonkar, NCP general secretary Avinash Bhosle and a mine owner Haresh Melwani.
Besides RTI Forum president Nandini Sahay, several other leaders have visited Ghate in the last four days, including Dr Oscar Rebello, former MLA Jose Philip D’Souza and Albertina Almeida.
This is absolute foolishness. CM has already announced that the selection for SIC is in process and the committee is meeting in next 8 days. Than, why this stunt?
To ensure total transparency in the selection process, the Goa Government should make public the five names each short-listed for the post of Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioner.
The current selection process of the Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioner should not be stage managed and be a mere eyewash. Before the final names are selected, the Government should disclose in public domain, the names of all the applicants and those short listed.
The three member committee headed by the Chief Secretary appointed to shortlist the candidates were all known Yes-men of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The same committee on the earlier occasion on political pressure had high-handedly wrongly short listed Pandurang Nadkarni and Pradeep Padwal despite there being other candidates who were much more qualified for the post.
The best and the brightest should be appointed to these very vital positions. As provided under Section 15 (3) of the RTI Act, the Committee comprising of the Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition and another Minister should themselves review all the applications and select persons strictly on merit with no lobbying or fixing whatsoever. All the aspiring candidates need to be interviewed as relying solely on the bio-data submitted by them could end up selecting the wrong persons.
To ensure proper implementation of the Right to Information Act, the State Information Commission should comprise of independent minded persons who would not succumb to the pressures and pulls of the politicians in power.
Certain vested interests are secretly lobbying behind the scene to get a Maharashtra retired officer Leena Mehendale appointed. Only Goans should be considered for the post of CIC and SIC.
Goa has already enough migrants. If this government is serious on its policy of Special status for Goa, it should ensure that only Goans are appointed to all positions possible as there was no dearth of such persons.
RTI is the best thing to happen to the common man, where common man can make accountability for the Corrupt Government Officials corrupt practices and arrogant behavior. They should be told that this common man pay your Salary. Respect this Common Man. Finish their work within days or weeks and not in months.
Mahesh , Mapusa :
Unfortunately Mr Parrikar.. "says what he will deliver".....but very rarely ..."Delivers what he says".
And this is the conundrum.
The difference is ;between a PROMISE and a GUARANTEE. Mr Parrikars "guarantees" thus far have a poor record and have been dismal & non existent.
If Goa, with a population of approx. 1.5 million people and a very high proportion of highly educated citizens and above India`s average too ...cannot find a CIC & SIC then it is rather a shame.
Mr Parrikar has also accused many Congress-wallas of being corrupt. Every Goan accepts this accusation...and so too many outside Goa.
So is Mr Parrikar delaying the appointments to ensure he finds the right(yes sir, no sir) SIC & CIC to protect himself and his BJP wallas?.
His CONSTANT negativity, towards the RTI activists indicates this fear.
He is keen to know how they (activists) are funded...but is reluctant to tell us how he and his Party is funded.