Monday, October 13, 2008

Photos published in Ranchi Express

Sunday, October 12, 2008

सूचना के अधिकार पर जागरूकता अभियान चलाएं : मुंडा रांची : झारखंड के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री अर्जुन मुंडा ने प्रशासनिक कार्यो में गोपनीयता के बदले पारदर्शिता की जरुरत पर बल देते हुए सूचना के अधिकार पर जन जागरुकता अभियान चलाने पर जोर दिया है। जूनियर चेंबर इंटरनेशनल व झारखंड आरटीआई फोरम के संयुक्त तत्वावधान में जेसीआई हाल में रविवार को आयोजित सूचनाधिकार की तीसरी वर्षगांठ पर लोगों को संबोधित करते हुए उन्होंने सरकारी मशीनरी को सिस्टम के तहत काम करते हुए विश्वसनीयता कायम रखने की सलाह दी, ताकि प्रशासन और जनता के बीच दूरी कम हो सके। इस मौके पर सूचनाधिकार पर विष्णु राजगढि़या व नंदनी सहाय की पुस्तक का विमोचन भी किया गया। सूचना आयुक्त सृष्टिधर महतो ने सूचना कानून की अवहेलना करने वाले अधिकारियों की मानसिकता बदलने की जरुरत बताई। सूचना आयुक्त गंगोत्री कुजूर ने झारखंड आरटीआई फोरम द्वारा राज्य में चलाए जा रहे अभियान को सकारात्मक कदम बताया। इस अवसर पर झारखंड आरटीआइ फोरम की नई कमेटी का भी गठन किया गया। जिसमें अध्यक्ष बलराम, उपाध्यक्ष गोपीनाथ घोष एवं संदीप आनंद, सचिव विष्णु राजगढि़या, सह सचिव सुनील महतो एवं राजेश कसेरा, कोषाध्यक्ष आरपी शाही, प्रचार सचिव शक्ति पांडे को बनाया गया। इस अवसर पर चेंबर के पूर्व अध्यक्ष अरुण बुधिया, संजय सेठ, डा. सुरेश अग्रवाल, पवन बजाज, विजय अग्रवाल, डा. सुरंजन, प्रेम कटारुका, प्रकाश हेतमसरिया, मनीष रामसिसरिया, मनीष टांटिया, दामोदार अग्रवाल, नारायण मुरारका, चेंबर सचिव सुरेश चंद्र अग्रवाल, अश्रि्वनी राजगढि़या, समेत कई लोग उपस्थित थे।
दैनिक जागरण से साभार
The Telegraph, 13-10-2008 Munda seeks smart use of RTI OUR CORRESPONDENT Ranchi, Oct. 12: At a seminar on the Right to Information Act (RTI) held today, former chief minister Arjun Munda sought judicious use of the information act from the state’s citizens and organisations. The seminar — which was organised by the Jharkhand RTI Forum, a social group working in this sector, and the Junior Chamber International, a social organisation — celebrated three years of the RTI in India. Several officials, including the two information commissioners of the state, Gangotri Kujur and Sristidhar Mahto, attended the event. Before experts and politicians took to the stage, former chief minister released a book on the RTI. The book authored by the director of Media Information and Communication Centre of India, Nandini Sahay, and the centre’s Jharkhand chief, Vishnu Rajgadia, is a guideline to the RTI. The Rs 250-worth book was published by the media centre, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a German voluntary organisation, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. “In the past three years several private and public parties have used the RTI for personal gain. But, the act was provided to people to bring in transparency in the system, to empower people to understand their rights better. It failed that task several times as it was not used honestly by the people,” Munda said. Information commissioner Mahto agreed with Munda and added that RTI was not a tool for “personal vengeance”. At the same time, he asked people to use their RTI rights fearlessly and challenge the legislature and the judiciary, if need be, to get the information that is rightfully theirs. “If you are seeking information even from the state high court and if the latter refuses to do so, you are welcome to knock on the information commission’s door. If the matter reaches me, I will ensure that you get to the information,” Mahto promised. Kujur, on his part, asked NGOs to play an active part and use the RTI as “a tool” to maintain a vigil on the bureaucracy and on the government, to force both to keep transparency in their duties. Social activist Balram asserted that said it was “wrong” to let off persons denying information “lightly”. “A person found guilty of violating the RTI should be dealt strictly, as the act does not allow people to be let off lightly,” he said.

Photo Caption : Former chief minister Arjun Munda releases a book on the third anniversary of the Right to Information Act. Picture by Prashant Mitra

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081013/jsp/jharkhand/story_9960639.jsp

Release of the Book on RTI

Book on RTI, written by Ms. Nandini Sahai and Vishnu Rajgadia, Published by UNESCO, FES-India and MICCI has been released on 12th of October 2008, the third anniversary of the Right to Information. The Ex. Chief Minister and Leader of opposition in Jharkhand Mr. Arjun Munda released the book during a seminar on RTI organized by Jharkhand RTI Forum and Junior Chamber International in JCI Hall Ranchi. The State Information Commissioners Mr. Shristidhar Mahto and Gangotry Kujur, Mr. Balram (President of Jharkhand RTI Forum), Mr. Vishnu Rajgadia (Secretary of Jharkhand RTI Forum), Gautam Kumar (President of JCI] Ranchi) and Mr. Raajesh Kasera (Chairman, JCI RTI Cell were present on dias). The event has been covered by the media at large.