NCPRI to hold national convention in Hyderabad from February 16-18

20 January, 2013

The National Campaign for Peoples' Right to Information (NCPRI) is organizing its fourth national convention in Hyderabad from February 16-18, to celebrate and document seven years of the use of the Right to Information law.

In the NCPRI Shillong convention, held in March 2011, it was decided that there would be a reorganization of the organisation. The 16th will be a day for NCPRI members to bring the new structure into effect.

Mr Ramakrishnam Raj of NCPRI extended invitation to activists and those interested in RTI to join them for the open meetings on the 17th and 18th of February on transparency, accountability and the working of the Right to Information law.

The following is the tentative agenda: 17th February – Discussion on the Shillong Declaration, RTI Act and manifestations of transparency and accountability. RTI users from across the country, law-makers, information commissioners and bureaucrats will be invited to discuss the use and working of the RTI.

Various experiences of using the law by groups across the country will be shared and the challenges regarding implementation of the Act will be discussed. Issues related to appointment of information commissioners, section 4 of the RTI Act and RTI rules would also be discussed. There are several campaigns and sangathans that are using the RTI law to ensure transparency and accountability into governance structures.

These campaigns will share their work on different issues such as conducting social audits under NREGA, ensuring transparency in the functioning of elected representatives including utilization of local area development funds of Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, transparent processes written into laws such as the Land Acquisition Act etc.

Simultaneous workshops conducted by experts in these different areas will be organized. Proactive disclosures under section 4 of the RTI Act through various means including the Internet, boards, wall painting, publications etc. will also be discussed.

In addition, there will be a session to discuss the progress made on the declaration of the 2011 Shillong convention. 18th February–Visit to various sites organized by the Society of Social Audit and Transparency in Hyderabad. SSAAT would facilitate a field visit for participants to witness the power and potential of a social audit process. This will provide an opportunity to understand and witness the status and potential of the wide-ranging effects of the Right to Information law in various spheres of governance.