New Delhi, Nov 9 (Agency) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said that effective use of the RTI will help in building a developed and corruption-free India, as envisioned by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Birla made the statement while addressing the 15th Annual Convention of Central Information Commission titled (CIC) ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Citizen – centric Governance through RTI’ at Vigyan Bhawan here.
“The main aim of the Right to Information Act is to empower citizens, bringing transparency, getting system rid of corruption and taking the democracy to the hands of the people of the country in true sense,” the Speaker said. Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh, who was also present, in his address said, transparency and citizen-centricity are the hallmark of the Modi governance model. “RTI Act is not a standalone law, but it is part of the larger narrative of strengthening Indian democracy, ensuring transparency in governance and building capacities of the common citizen to enable him to take informed decisions and choices,” Singh said. The minister also lauded CIC for achieving consistent decline in pendency with corresponding rise in disposal of the RTI appeals.