Mahesh Zagade and Prahlad Kachare to address seminar; Sajag Nagrik Manch takes the initiative
Pune | Rayat Samachar
A special seminar has been organised by Sajag Nagrik Manch, Pune, today, Sunday, July 5, at 5:00 PM to examine whether the proposed amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Rules could affect the effective implementation of the RTI Act and whether these changes are a step towards weakening one of India’s most important transparency laws.
The discussion will be held at the IMDR College Auditorium on BMCC Road, Pune, and is open to the public free of charge.
It has been two decades since the Right to Information Act, 2005 came into force. Recently, the Maharashtra Government proposed significant changes to the rules governing the implementation of the RTI Act. However, following statewide protests by RTI activists and a hunger strike warning by veteran social activist Anna Hazare, the government temporarily stayed the implementation of the proposed rules.
Although the rules have been put on hold, they have not been withdrawn, raising concerns among activists that they could dilute the original spirit and objectives of the RTI Act.
The seminar will feature guidance from Mahesh Zagade (Retired IAS), former Principal Secretary of Maharashtra’s General Administration Department; Prahlad Kachare, retired Additional District Collector; and Vivek Velankar, an RTI expert and activist.
The speakers will discuss the necessity of the proposed amendments, the rationale behind them, and their likely impact on citizens and transparency in governance.
Sajag Nagrik Manch President Vivek Velankar and Executive Trustee Jugal Rathi have appealed to citizens, social activists, students, journalists, and RTI activists to participate in the seminar. For further information, interested participants may contact Vivek Velankar at 9850063480 or Jugal Rathi at 9370066937.
