Subhas Chandra Pattanayak
The Orissa State Government was ultimately convinced that the Rules it had framed and promulgated in 2005 for implementation of the Right to Information Act was deficient and urgent amendment to the said Rules (RTI Rules, 2005) was necessary to make it effective. Accordingly, last year, it had invited suggestions from the general public for amendment of the Rules.
Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA), a platform of Civil Society Groups spearheading campaign for effective implementation of RTI Act in the State had submitted a memoranda of suggested amendments to the Rules in response to the government invitation. But, though it was in 2010, the State Government has not taken any further step in the matter. It looks, as if the issue has been forgotten.
A delegation of OSAA comprising Mr. Pradip Pradhan, Mrs. Usharani Behera, Mr. Tapan Mohapatra and Mr. Raj Kishor Singh have submitted last week a reminder to Chief Secretary of Orissa Mr. Bijay Patnaik, demanding to bring in the amendments to Orissa RTI Rules,2005 without any further delay. Mr. Patnaik, a press release by OSAA says, has assured the RTI Activists to take positive steps in this regard .