Protest held against move to amend RTI law

Hundreds of activists on Monday staged demonstration in front of the Collector office here opposing the Union Government’s move to amend the RTI Act 2005. The protestors described that the amendment in RTI Act would dilute the existing globally acclaimed India’s transparency legislation.

Addressing at the protest site, senior RTI campaigners said the Union Government brought the RTI amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha on July 19 without public consultation which is a mandate under the law. As such, the amendment move is anti-democratic, they said.

Odisha Suchana Adhikar Abhiyan president Prashant Routray informed that the RTI amendment Bill will empower both the Union and State

Governments as they will decide the salaries of the information commissioners working in national and State levels.

The RTI Act postulates that the salaries, allowances and term of services of the Central Information Commissioners shall be rank of a Judge of the Supreme Court of India and the State Information Commissioner’s perks shall be same as Chief Secretary of the State but the proposed RTI amendment will empower the Union and State

Governments to decide salaries of the Information Commissioners which directly would dent their autonomy, Routray added.

Moreover, the RTI activists urged steps for appointment of Lokayukta and Lokpal and implementation of Whistle Blowers Protection Act.

Later, the activists submitted a memorandum for the Prime Minister through the Collector under the leadership of Bikash Mohanty, Bikram Keshari Das, Subash Chandra Nayak and Rabindra Nayak.