Jammu, Feb 25: Admitting a lopsided approach towards the implementation of Right to Information (RTI) Act across the state, Jammu and Kashmir government has directed all the Deputy Commissioners to organize special awareness campaigns and training sessions so that the people at the gross root level can take benefit of the legislation.
 “It has further been learnt that due to the lopsided approach so far pursued, the benefits under this scheme have been confined to selected pockets and to a limited section of population”, an order issued by the government on Friday stated.
 It said that the Jammu and Kashmir RTI Act 2009 has been enacted to provide for setting out the regime of Right to Information for the people of the state to secure access to information under the control of Public Authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every Public authority.
 “It has been observed during deliberations with cross-sections of society that the knowledge and awareness about the RTI is generally missing among the common masses,” the order observed adding that the due to the lack of knowledge primarily among the beneficiary class in the rural, far flung, backward and inaccessible areas, the public generally has not been coming forward for availing the opportunities available through RTI route.
 Referring to an interaction session of RTI activists with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the government proposed to the Deputy Commissioners that they may take necessary steps initiated for conducting seminars, workshops, symposiums and informative sessions where all stakeholders are associated in the pursuit to inform all sections of society about the benefits available through RTI together with spelling out the mechanism for grievance redressal through this instrument.
  The DCs have been further asked to file a detailed progress report in this regard to General Administrative Department within 2-months.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST