Srinagar hosts workshop on RTI, Citizen-Centric Governance

Srinagar, Aug 22: The Central Information Commission (CIC) and the J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD) jointly organised a workshop on “Right to Information and Citizen-Centric Governance” here. As per a statement issued here, Chief Information Commissioner, Heeralal Samariya, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the challenges faced by the CIC and public authorities in implementing the RTI Act in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.  Samariya emphasised the crucial role of Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) in ensuring effective implementation of the Act. He also stressed the importance of proactive disclosure by public authorities and regular transparency audits to assess the effectiveness of the RTI framework. The workshop, attended by nearly 250 officers, including FAAs, CPIOs and other officials from various public authorities, provided a platform for interactive discussion and knowledge sharing. Samariya addressed the queries and concerns raised by the participants, offering valuable insights and guidance. Rehana Batool, Director IMPARD, spoke about the institute’s activities while Dr. Jahan Ara Jabeen provided an overview of the implementation of the RTI Act in Jammu and Kashmir. The workshop was widely appreciated by the participants, who praised the collaborative effort between CIC and IMPARD. The Registrar, CIC, expressed gratitude to the Director, IMPARD and the officers of the General Administration Department for their support in organizing the program. Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat coordinated the activities of CIC during the workshop. This workshop is part of IMPARD’s ongoing efforts to build capacity and enhance governance in Jammu and Kashmir an initiative that has been ongoing for nearly two decades.