Thrust on public-pvt jt effort to implement RTI Act properly
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Speakers at a consultation said the government and all the stakeholders have to work jointly for smooth implementation of the Right to Information Act to ensure best use of it, said a press release.
Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) organised the meeting supported by USAID Progati at Khulna Saturday.
Enactment of the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) is a landmark move towards ensuring people's access to information. But a major challenge in the implementation process is making the information providers and receivers aware of the rules and provisions, the speakers said. The law will remain unknown or ignored by the actual beneficiaries without an effective campaign, they said.
They pointed out the role of individual institutions, various limitations in the implementation process of the law and suggested remedies to overcome the challenges.
Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Md Jamsher Ahmed Khandker termed the culture of secrecy as the biggest challenge to implementation of the act.
Barrister Tanjib-ul Alam made a presentation on the strengths and weaknesses of the law, limitations of the information commission and major clauses and provisions under the RTI Act. He stressed the need for determining the status of the information commissioners to strengthen the information commission.
Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director of MRDI said the law would successful only when the marginal people get benefit from it. He also said the institutions have to be pro-active in providing information to those who need information and seek information.
Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) organised the meeting supported by USAID Progati at Khulna Saturday.
Enactment of the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) is a landmark move towards ensuring people's access to information. But a major challenge in the implementation process is making the information providers and receivers aware of the rules and provisions, the speakers said. The law will remain unknown or ignored by the actual beneficiaries without an effective campaign, they said.
They pointed out the role of individual institutions, various limitations in the implementation process of the law and suggested remedies to overcome the challenges.
Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Md Jamsher Ahmed Khandker termed the culture of secrecy as the biggest challenge to implementation of the act.
Barrister Tanjib-ul Alam made a presentation on the strengths and weaknesses of the law, limitations of the information commission and major clauses and provisions under the RTI Act. He stressed the need for determining the status of the information commissioners to strengthen the information commission.
Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director of MRDI said the law would successful only when the marginal people get benefit from it. He also said the institutions have to be pro-active in providing information to those who need information and seek information.