Hill Areas Council (HAC) chairman Dinganglung (Dipu) Gangmei on Tuesday called on the public to use RTI effectively for constructive purposes of the society, saying RTI is an Act to rectify the system while some misuse the Act for vested interest.
Addressing the closing function of RTI Week Celebration 2022 at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal, Dipu, who is also the MLA of Nungba AC, stated that the Parliament enacted the Act in 2005 considering information as a power to the citizen of a democratic country.
In fact, its function is to ensure accountability and transparency in the government and a medium to know that democracy is functioning well, he added.
The event was organised by the Manipur Information Commission (MIC).
Stating that the MIC is working very well and is making the public feel its presence, he lauded the entire team of the commission for their insightful decision taken up in various cases to deliver the rights of the citizen.
AMWJU president W Shyamjai highlighted the dark side of the Act which intended to ensure smooth and transparent functioning of the government.
Shyamjai alleged that some people use RTI as a tool to blackmail officials instead of exposing the scams to the public while some outlaw groups threaten RTI activists who try to bring out the wrongdoings of some projects.
Stating that RTI activists should tackle all threats, he said that the government and the public will always be there to secure them from any threat if they stick to the truth.
Recalling the flashing of an alleged multi-crore scam of MSPDCL by a local daily using RTI, the AMWJU president apprised all his fellow journalists to make use of the RTI.
Further appraising the youths to study the RTI Act thoroughly and make positive use of it in the society, he said, "Please stop misusing RTI Act and stop threatening the RTI activists."
During the function, prizes were distributed to the winners of the RTI Essay Competition which was held during the week-long celebration at DM University.
The function was presided over by MIC chief information commissioner Oinam Sunil.
