TURA: In a shocking incident, an attempt was allegedly made by staff of the Rongram C&RD Block to mislead a local NGO leader that filing of an RTI was no more possible when he had sought information under the act with regard to MGNREGA recently.
AYWO Rongram Regional Branch president, Pendar G Momin had on March 21 tried to procure information with regard to MGNREGA after receiving several complaints from the residents of the area. However, the staff of the block office allegedly refused to accept the RTI application saying that the BDO was not in.
Again on March 23, Momin is said to have approached the office with the intention of getting his RTI application filed but was again refused by the staff who allegedly claimed that ‘it was not possible nowadays to file an RTI’.
However, not losing hope and determined to get his RTI filed, Momin for the last time on March 29th approached the office yet again. But to his utter dismay he was completely ignored and left unattended by the staff. Momin claimed that he was mocked by the staff at the time who blatantly even asked him ‘if he was afraid of the BDO’.
The AYWO, Central Governing Body (CGB) which is now taking up the issue has expressed shock over the irresponsible behavior of the staff and have even submitted a complaint against the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Block to the State Chief Information Commission (SCIC). “Who gave them the right to question the applicant for filing an RTI? Do they have any right to refuse the application? Or are the staff including the PIO above the law that they can undermine the provisions provided to every citizen under the RTI Act?” the AYWO demanded in their complaint to the SCIC.
Terming the actions of the block office staff as gross assault of the Indian Constitution and suppression of right to question by resorting to intimidation, the AYWO has sought justice by way of action against all those involved.
“The manner in which the staff behaved was unjust, unbecoming and unprofessional and we demand justice in return. Our organization will stand against any injustice perpetrated upon our people and we hope that justice is served at the earliest,” it said.
