Implementation of RTI Act in Goa

Implementation of RTI Act in GOA

Since I last wrote about the seminars organized by the Law colleges in Goa on the RTI Act implementation, I notice that some news papers in Goa also took up the publicity of the activities under RTI in Goa. For instance, the Herald news paper commented editorially, about the slow progress in the suo motto publication of the 17 point manuals by the Govt depts. and the non-appointment of Public Information Officers (PIOs) and the appellate authorities by them. Though it is mandated that they should do so within 120 days of the implementation of the Act, and more than 300 days have passed by , many of them did not comply. Even the few, who did so, after constant breathing down their neck, made so many mistakes that we had to pass another directing the revision of the list and personal monitoring by the chief secretary of the state. Hopefully, things might improve in course of the next month. The State info commission also pointed out the need to bring out the info in a booklet form and price it reasonably low, if necessary by subsidizing its cost so that citizens can make use of it.

The Govt is also mandated to impart training to its own officials to effectively implement the RTI Act, and publish the Act and rules in local language and give wide publicity. The review of the implementation of RTI is expected to be taken up in Oct at a national covention where the representatives of Central and state commissions, the social activists, & Govt officials are expected to take part.