IMPHAL, Oct 5 - Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today inaugurated the Right to Information (RTI) Week Celebration organised by State Information Commission.
Speaking on the occasion, Singh said, �UPA Government in 2005 enacted the RTI Act with the main objective to realise transparency in government activities and to contain corruption.�
Stating that every citizen has a right to know, Ibobi said that information is a basic requirement in democracy. It is not possible for any democratic government to survive without accountability, which can be realised when people have information about functioning of the government, he added.
He urged the people, �Let us act to eradicate political despotism and opportunism. Know your right to information. Make legitimate use of it.�
In this manner, both media and civil society organisations can infuse greater transparency and accountability in the administration of development programmes and arrest the abuse of power and misuse of public resources, he added while acknowledging that very few RTI applications are filed by citizens in the hill districts and rural areas.
Presiding over the function, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam cautioned, �RTI Act is like a double-edged sword and so the intention of the RTI applicant must be responsible and holy.�
State Chief Information Commissioner Th Ibobi Singh gave the Keynote address at the inaugural function attended by high level officials of State Government, members of Civil Society Organisations and students.
