Bhatkal: A day long workshop on Right To Information (RTI) Act was organized under the aegis of Association For Protection Of Civil Rights (APCR) Uttar Kannada district unit here at Rabita hall in Nawayath colony on Sunday.
Inaugurating the event, chief guest Shafi Shaikh, RTI activist of Gulbarga, spoke on the importance and objectives of the RTI Act, which was implemented in 2005. He also threw light on RTI Act and the obligations of public authorities, role of State Information Commission, power and functions including appeal and penalty provisions under the Act.
He further said seeking information from the government is the right of the information seeker while as it is the responsibility of an officer to give him information in a time-bound manner. With the RTI Act, every citizen got the right to ask questions of authorities, he said. It had also affected the behaviour of bureaucracy at all levels, he added.
In a worskshop Shafi saheb explained ane showed many example of filing RTI.
The workshop was inaugurated by pouring water to the small plant.
APCR district president Maulana Zubair SM chaired over the function, while secretary Qamaruddin Mashaik delivered the welcome address and introduced the guest to audience. Convener of the worshop Ismail Zoerez spoke on the objectives of organizing the workshop.
Women members including community organizers, volunteers and media representatives participated in it.
Velidictory session:
Speaking on the occasion, a senior journalist of Bhatkal, Dr. Haneef Shabab, in his speech elaborated about how the democracy of the country is in danger and explained the current scenario of the country. "The citizens who questions government for their wrong doing are being targeted. A sandalwood actor Prakash Rai is an example of it", he added.
Further speaking, Shafi Shaikh Gulbarga, asked that there are many issues were we can help the government. With RTI, we can also protect the government. "A chain should be created where we have to work together by collecting funds, legal awareness. RTI has provided us a complete track through which we can overcome the issues which we face today", he said.
The velidictory ceremony was presided by Maulana Zubair SM, while Abul Khair Bangali compered the event.
On this occasion secretary of Welfare society Qadir Meeran Patel, JIH taluka President Mujahid Mustafa, Ismail Kakde, Muhammad Talish, Ismail Zoerez, Qamaruddin Mashaik and others were present.