NCCI conducts 'Chintan Baithak' on Right to Information Act 2005

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) conducted a 'Chintan Baithak' on the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005, inviting noted IT lawyer, Rodney D. Ryder to speak on the issue.

"Law is too important to leave to the lawyers," said Ryder, explaining the significance, scope and objective of the Right to Information Act 2005.

The "right to information" which has its origins in the Indian Constitution is the foundation for an 'open government' and the RTI Act is an important law which checks the democratic process of India, giving it "model governance" and "transparency," he said, adding that the core of this basic human right lies in principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

"We are guaranteed the right of freedom of expression and the right to information. Freedom of expression is the human right to express and exchange opinions, beliefs and information with others while the right to information is the human right to secure access to publicly held information and the corresponding duty upon a public body to make information available," he said.

"The Right to Information Act mandates the government to put into place communication mechanisms that empower people to influence national and local government policy," he said, adding, "The law promotes participation, transparency and accountability."

Acknowledging that the Act, perhaps, is one of the most important legislations of the century, Ryder said, "Poor and vulnerable groups can be empowered by strengthening those information and communication mechanisms that are most relevant to them (e.g. strengthening the operation of community radio through support for infrastructure and equipment in rural areas, enhancing local capacities for programming etc)."

The Church has an important role in spreading awareness of its peoples' rights and teaching them to empower themselves through the law. The Church should – through 'awareness' programmes, seminars/workshops; publications; video and sound recordings – take upon itself the policy of communicating the rights to its people. "Counseling on RTI can form a part of larger involvement," Ryder said.

"Through sustained campaigns and outreach programmes, the Church can take a proactive role in 'partnering' with the Central and State Governments in studying and analyzing the legal apparatus and its implications for the citizens," he concluded.

'Chintan Baithak' is a forum of the Commission on Polity and National Governance of the NCCI. Chintan Baithak brings together Christians as well as people of other faiths and ideological persuations to discuss issues and concerns that impact the quality of life of the Indian citizens in general and the Christians in particular.