RTI certificate course gets overwhelming response

The RTI Certificate Course started by Mumbai university's department of civics and politics opened to an overwhelming response. Expecting a turnout of 40, it had to take in 50 and turn 25 students away for lack of space.

The function had prominent personalities connected with the RTI Act talk about it — Nikhil Dey, prominent RTI activist, Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner, Ratnakar Gaikwad, state chief information commissioner and others.

"Around 75 forms were given; we could take only 50 students. The response was beyond our expectation," said Bhaskar Prabhu, a faculty.

Talking about the need to go beyond getting information, Gandhi said, "Academic courses like these will help institutionalise the RTI Act. The public information officer, commissioner and applicant may look at it through their way, but an independent and objective study can be done on what is missing and why it is not happening, which is actually an academician's job. The Act will become a talking point and can find its way in schools like environment did."

Dey spoke about the need to widen the ambit of the Act. He gave a detailed account of success stories coming out of RTI Act. Gaikwad said, "The Act is very revolutionary and we have shifted from a culture of secrecy to transparency. It is must for good governance. However, there are many complexities and interpretations even in courts. The course will go a long way in providing in-depth analysis and provide good inputs for training. At Yashada too, there are similar things going on."

"In good governance, responsiveness is very important. But complaints cannot be tackled with the RTI Act alone, so we have increased its scope by clubbing it with timely delivery of services Act."