PANAJI
A press conference to announce details of the Annual RTI Convention at Institute of Menezes Braganza Conference Hall was organized by Goa RTI Forum on May 24 at 4pm. The press conference was addressed by Digamber Naik (president), Sandeep Heble (secretary), Sangita Naik (treasurer) and Prakash Kamat (coordinator).
Secretary Sandeep Heble gave a brief background of the Goa RTI Forum. “Goa RTI Forum is a NGO set up with a mission to take the benefits of Right to Information (RTI) to the masses of Goa. Since its inception in 2008, the forum has organized several workshops and lectures on RTI and good governance in Goa, bringing several inspiring activists / prominent civil society citizens such as Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Shailesh Gandhi, Dr Madhav Gadgil, Nandini Sahai, Anupam Saraf, etc,” said Heble.
Heble further said that “for the past few years, Goa RTI Forum organises an annual Goa RTI Convention. The 1st Convention was held in Madkai, followed by one in Siolim and then in Valpoi. This year’s annual convention will be held in the Institute of Menezes Braganza Conference Hall, Panjim, on Sunday May 27, from 2 pm to 6 pm. The Convention will be a platform for all the activists to come together to discuss and interact on various issues pertaining to RTI and good governance in Goa. The Keynote address will be delivered by State Information Commissioner Mrs Pratima Vernekar while there will be special talks on diverse topics by experts in the field, namely: RTI – Problems and Solutions by Advocate Aires Rodrigues; Suo-motu disclosures by Rajan Ghate; How to file Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Trojan Dmello; Emerging issues in implementation of RTI Act by Advocate Yatish Naik; Overview, Key Orders and Landmark Judgments by Dr Ketan Govekar & Kashinath Shetye and Role of RTI in media by Senior Journalist Prakash Kamat, followed by interactions with the audience. There will be a Special Open Forum which will be a platform for various activists to come forward and express their personal experiences in RTI. Students are invited to prepare and submit short video presentations of 3 minutes duration which shall be displayed during the convention. Special prizes will be awarded to best presentations. The Goa RTI Forum will pay its tribute to Adv Satish Sonak who was at the forefront of initiating this movement of bringing all the activists together on one platform in Goa. The Forum will also pay its respects to former MP Adv Amrut Kansar.”
Senior Journalist Prakash Kamat highlighted details of the RTI Awards: “At the convention, the best activist of the year will be presented with a Citation along with a cash prize of Rs 5000/-, in the memory of my late father Waman alias Mhablu Kamat. Awards to other prominent RTI Activists and students who are a role model to society will also be presented”, said Kamat.
Speaking on the occasion, Digambar Naik, President of Goa RTI Forum invited all to be a part of this RTI movement: “We invite activists from all over Goa, as well as Advocates, Law Students, Journalists, and the general public to participate in this Convention which will be extremely educative and a good get together for all. At the end of the Convention, there will be various resolutions passed which shall be communicated to the Government for their effective implementation. A Special Award for the Journalist who makes best use of RTI shall also be announced during the Convention”, said Digamber Naik.
“The primary objective of the convention is to take the empowering Right to Information act to the masses of Goa and to recognize the efforts of those who are using the act for public good. We will also honour Goa’s first state information commissioner, Mr G G Kambli posthumously for his contribution towards effective implementation of the Act in the state in its early phases. We appeal to all the Goans to attend the convention in large numbers and show your solidarity,” said Sangeeta Naik.
