Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 13 2009:
A woman applicant seeking information under Right to Information Act in connection with construction of a road by PDW at Wabagai has been allegedly threatened to withdraw her application.
Participating in a discussion session organised jointly by Wabagai RTI Nupi Lup, Hiyanglam RTI Nupi Lup and Keirak RTI Nupi Lup at Wabagai Lamkhai Bazar today, the woman applicant informed the gathering that she has been threatened to withdraw the application submitted in connection with construction of the 4 km-long road stretch from Wabagai Makha Leikai to Wabagai Thingel Leikai.
Decrying the threat, the gutsy applicant said that as a citizen, it is the bounden duty of every one to keep abreast of the developmental works being taken up by the Government and it is the corresponding duty of the Government to provide the information being sought.
So we should not be disheartened by such intimidation, she exhorted the gathering.
The information that the woman applicant had received from the Government in response to her application like the amount of fund sanctioned and the quality of the work executed were also discussed in detailed during the session today.
Former Principal Oinam Bogendra, who also participated in the discussion session as a resource person, encouraged the public to be fearless and take the help of Right to Information Act in seeking information on the developmental works being taken up by the Government for the welfare of its people.
Public have the rights to know whether the developmental schemes being implemented for their welfare are being executed properly or not or whether the right quantity of the benefits entitled to them under Public Distribution System (PDS) like the rice, sugar, Kerosene, etc are being provided or not, and this rights is being guaranteed under RTI, Bogendra said.
He further explained that for seeking the relevant information, a citizen has to simply write down the matter on a plain paper and submitted it to the Departments concerned which are bound to provide the information being sought within 30 to 35 days of submitting the application.