RTI Awards Enters its Second Year
Nominations are invited for RTI Awards 2010. Instituted in 2009 by Public Cause Research Foundation, the awards seek to honor those who kept the flag of RTI high.
“It is an honor and an inspiration for those officers who are working for transparency within the system,” said Dr Lalit Narayan Mishra, winner of last year’s Best RTI officer award.
There are six awards in four categories – an Information Commissioner who enforced RTI Act strictly, two Public Information Officers, who provided correct and complete information according to law, and two citizens, who used RTI and created substantial public impact. A new category of awards has been added this year to honor one journalist who used RTI extensively in their reporting for highlighting public issues. A person can apply himself or can be recommended by someone else.
Among the Jury members are eminent personalities such as actor Aamir Khan, Chief Mentor of Infosys NR Narayana Murthy, Former Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice JS Verma, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India JM Lyngdoh, Constitutional Expert and Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman, Padma Bhushan Awardee Mallika Sarabhai, Padma Shri and Dronacharya Award Awardee Pullela Gopichand, Author Madhu Trehan, Chairman of NDTV Dr. Pronnoy Roy, Editor and CEO of Dainik Jagran Sanjay Gupta.
Though there are two awards in citizens’ category, the jury last year was so overwhelmed with the work of all finalists that they decided to give awards to all 19 finalists. Likewise, they decided to honor all the three finalists in PIO category. Where would the money come from for so many winners? Mr Narayana Murthy and Aamir Khan donated money on the spot for all additional winners.
Arunachal Pradesh Information Commission was adjudged the best information commission. It is the first commission to have issued arrest warrant against an erring PIO for violating commission’s orders. Nationally, only 38% of orders passed by various information commissions get complied with. Yet, no other commission invoked these powers against the erring officers.
Dr. Lalit Narayan Mishra won the Best PIO award. He provided complete and correct information to all appellants within the stipulated 30 days time. No appeal was filed against his decisions and 100% of the appellants reported satisfaction with the information provided by him.
“Though no one works for awards, however, such recognition strengthens the voice of the movement,” says Akhil Gogoi of Assam who won Best RTI citizen Award last year. He exposed leakages in Public Distribution System, which also resulted in suspension of many corrupt officers.
This year, an RTI Awards Committee (RAC) consisting of sixty-five eminent RTI Activists from almost all states has been set up. The committee would be responsible for monitoring the RTI Awards process as well as taking all decisions related to RTI Awards.
Nomination forms can be downloaded online from www.rtiawards.org. Last date for filing nominations is July 15, 2010.
Each award in Citizen, PIO and Journalist Categories consists of Rs. two lakh, a citation and a plaque.
