Open Invitation
5th National Convention on “Right to Information”
in Odisha
Dear friends
We are inviting you to the 5th National
Convention of National Campaign
for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) which will be held from 14th
to 16th October, 2017 at Utkal Mandap ( Near Rabindra Mandap),
Bhubaneshwar. Odisha Soochana
Adhikar Abhiyan (a State-level Network of RTI Activists leading campaign for
effective implementation of RTI Act in Odisha) is hosting this convention which will celebrate twelve years of the use
of the Right to Information law and reflect on the current challenges in its
implementation in different parts of the
country.
RTI users, Activists , Experts from across
the country will be joining in this convention and share their
experiences of the use of the law by movements, campaigns and individuals and
discuss the impact of the RTI Act on governance in the country. A mix of
plenary sessions, parallel workshops and an RTI mela will be organised to ensure
vibrant peoples’ participation. A host of
Eminent personalities and RTI Activists like Prof.
Pravat Patnaik, Economist, Prashant
Bhusan and Sri Anand Grover, Advocate,
Supreme Court, Mrs. Aruna Roy, Sri Wajahat Habibullah, former Central Chief
Information Commissioner, Sri Shailesh Gandhi,
former Central Information Commissioner, Mrs. Annie raja, Prof.
Sridhar Acharyulu, Central
Information Commissioner, Sri Sunil Kumar Mishra, Odisha Chief Information
Commissioner, Sri Venkatesh Nayak, Mrs. Anjali Bhardwaj, Sri Nikhil Dey and
many others will be joining in the
convention.
The convention will provide an opportunity
to deliberate on the current challenges impeding the effective implementation
of the RTI Act, including attacks on RTI users.
To trace the trajectory from transparency
to accountability in the past four years, since the last NCPRI convention was
held in Hyderabad, discussions will be organized on the status of various
anti-corruption and grievance redress legislations, including the
Whistleblowers’ Protection law, the Lokpal Act, the Prevention of Corruption
Amendment Bill and the grievance redress bill.
Recent developments around the right to
privacy and how it is likely to interface with peoples’ right to information
will be deliberated upon. The convention will also provide an opportunity to
discuss and develop strategies for safeguarding and furthering freedom of
speech and expression, which is the cornerstone of any democracy and is
enshrined in Article 19 (1)(a) of the constitution from which the right to
information flows.
Information commissioners, government
functionaries, RTI users and people associated with movements and campaigns
from across the country will participate in the convention. An RTI Mela will be organized in
collaboration with various citizens’ groups, where campaigns and organizations
from different states will put up stalls showcasing the use of the RTI Act.
We request you to attend and participate in the deliberation
of the Convention. We have fixed Rs.100.00 as
Registration fee to be paid by
each participant to attend the convention. Please kindly
confirm your participation by sending an email to odishasoochanaadhikar@gmail.com
or message to mobile no. 9937843482. We have arranged low cost boarding and
lodging for all the participants. The
Convention will start each day at 9.30 am to 5 pm followed by cultural programme in the night.
Best wishes and regards,
State Convener
M-9937843482
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