[rti4empowerment] Fw: The Hindu article on the RTI Consultation Meeting

--- On Mon, 7/4/11, Deepika <deepika@itforchange.net> wrote: Please find below the link and the article published in The Hindu today on the RTI consultation meeting that was held last week. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2157140.ece Consultation held on digital publication under RTI Act Special Correspondent A recent consultation on digital publication under the RTI Act made out a case for every public authority to put up information that "most concerns common citizens" on their websites. The consultation was held here as part of efforts to put into operation Section 4 of the RTI Act, which calls forsuo motu disclosure of powers and duties of officials and employees as well as the procedures followed in the decision-making process. The information should be presented in a form that the layman can understand, said a statement from IT for Change, an NGO that organised the consultation. The consultation was held to frame 'Guidelines for digital publication under the RTI Act supporting proactive disclosure of information". Apart from 16 Bangalore-based NGOs, the meeting was attended by Karnataka State Information Commissioner J.S. Virupakshaiah. The outcome of the consultation will be discussed at the national-level workshop organised by the Government of India's Department of Personnel and Training from July 7 to 9 in New Delhi. "Proactive disclosure has been called the future of the RTI and digital publication is a key means of proactive disclosure. Effective implementation of Section 4 of the Act can transform the leverage citizens have over public authorities in order to ensure accountability," the statement said. Regularly publishing the most frequently sought information would also mitigate the huge burden that was placed on public authorities to respond separately to the large number of specific queries. It was also considered necessary that senior officials and not just the Public Information Officer be held responsible for the non-compliance of proactive disclosure requirements. Each department should therefore frame an information policy, the statement said. Any organisation or individual who would like to provide inputs to the process can email itfc@itforchange.net Best wishes, Deepika -- Deepika Khatri Research Associate IT for Change Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities (In Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council) www.ITforChange.net Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890 Fax:+91-80-4146 1055