IGNOU
IGNOU's Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE) conducted a workshop for Central Public Information Officers of the University to make them conversant with On-line portal and Information System for effective and efficient delivery of information to the applicants seeking information under the RTI Act.
The purpose of the workshop was to sensitize the PIOs about the finer details of RTI Act 2005 so as to help them handle queries in an efficient manner as per the Acts’ provisions and to make them familiar with the on-line portal for speedy delivery of information available to the seeking citizen/s.
The workshop also exposed the participants to the on-line portal through hands-on training session.
In his inaugural address, Director STRIDE, P K Biswas highlighted the basic objectives of RTI Act which is to empower the citizens and promote transparency and accountability in the working of the government.
He said that PIOs play a vital role in making the citizen's Right to Information a reality and it is imperative that they understand the Act and its provisions.
Reiterating University’s commitment to a transparent and accountable system, SB Arora, VC, IGNOU commended STRIDE for organising the workshop and said that RTI's on-line portal would help empower the citizens and make our democracy work for the people in real sense.
Pulla Lakshmi, Coordinator of the workshop gave a rundown on the different aspects of the training in terms of takeaways by the participants at the end of each session.
She outlined that the workshop would help participants work using on-line portal for the complete flow which includes filing the reference appeal, scanning, responding on the appeals etc.,
Advocate M S Kasana, expert on RTI in his lecture to the participants acquainted them of the fine details of the Act along with its provisions, relevant to their working.
He said that the Act casts specific duties on PIOs and makes them liable for penalty in case of default. It is therefore essential for a PIO to study the Act carefully and correctly under its provisions, he added.
Pulla Lakshmi proposed the vote of thanks and thanked the expert and the participants for their full support in making the workshop a success which has clear tangible benefits.
