SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Right To Information Movement commemorated 10 years of the RTI Act amid a renewed demand for implementation of the Lokayukta Act in Meghalaya.
The gathering witnessed not only participation of the 13 organizations that constitute the MRTIM but a section of people from the outskirts of Shillong who were benefitted from the RTI Act.
Angela Rangad, member, Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR), said RTI is a tool to check corruption. She alleged that corruption was rampant in every sphere of governance like the land grabbing case in New Shillong Township, purchase of medicines that are way past the expiry date and permission to set up cement and limestone factories leading to deforestation and pollution. Referring to the infamous ‘white ink scam’ she claimed, “Even in the education sector undeserving teachers are teaching our children.””RTI is there, yet the only way to punish the wrongdoers is through the Lokayukta Act, otherwise there will be no accountability,” observed Agnes Kharshiing.The MRTIM has asked the selection committee headed by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to constitute a search committee for appointment of the Lokayukta.
Daniel Khyriem pointed out that filing an RTI has become a fashion. “After an RTI is filed a stage of compromise is reached, but that should not be the case, we need to follow up on the issue,” he said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Joe Marwein said, “RTI was not enough. A Lokayukta is needed for a corruption free state.”A resident of Jongksha said that through the RTI Act she was able to uncover corruption in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) scheme. She informed that village heads had taken advantage of the ignorance of the villagers.”With the implementation of RTI, there has been a change in the village, oppression of the less advantaged people is not common now,” she added.At the gathering of RTI activists, several files relating to corruption were unveiled including the PDS scheme where rice do not reach the people, the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) relating to high rises, as well as reckless road construction by the PWD.
