Training on RTI Act to be held in 1,000 locations across TN

CHENNAI: After exposing several crores of corruption using Right To Information (RTI) Act, Arappor Iyakkam, a city based organisation, has launched massive RTI training camps across the State from Sunday.

The organisation has planned to conduct 1,000 training sessions.

During the inaugural event held in Chennai, in which several youngsters and college students took part, Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of the organisation, explained the nuances of RTI Act to get information from the government departments and ways to put the collected information to resolve public issues apart from availing government services without greasing the hands of authorities.

"It is the duty of officials to provide information and right of the people to ask questions. Earlier, only a few persons used RTI Act. But, during the last few years, more and more persons use the Act and it has witnessed some penetration. RTI Act has given the power of asking questions to common man. Before that, MPs and MLAs had only had that power," Jayaram Venkatesan said.

He opined that vibrant society will only be developed only if more people ask questions. He also requested the government to appoint 10 state information commissioners to dispose of RTI appeals as some appeals take around a year to heard.

During the training session, Jayaram Venkatesan showed some examples, including Arappor Iyakkam's RTI battle that exposed graft in appointing doctors and nurses in Chennai Corporation hospitals, reclamation of Villivakkam Lake, and supply of tur dal to ration (PDS) shops.

Arappor Iyakkam has planned to complete the 1,000 training sessions in a year and locations have been finalised to conduct sessions in 100 places in next two months. The organisation has also requested the citizens to approach of they have issues with getting information from the departments and promised assistance. A booklet about the Act was distributed at the inaugural event that contains sample RTI applications.