A One-day "Statelevel Consultation" was held under the aegis of BASUNDHARA at Cuttack on 13th July, 2002 to carry forward the ongoing debate on the preliminary draft document on the proposed 'Orissa Right to Information Bill-2002'. Attended by experienced and knowledgeable persons from different walks of life such as Law, Media, Government service, NGOs, Social Service and academics, the Consultation could elicit the response of majority of participants on the Clause-by-Clause provisions of the Draft Bill. In course of a total of four sessions that were held on the day, a wide range of issues concerning the Orissa Draft Bill starting from its very preamble and definitions of public authorities upto the nature and functions of appellate and monitoring mechanism, were discussed in a candid and interactive manner.
The inaugural session of the Consultation was chaired by Dr. Mahamaya Patnaik, President, Basundhara. Mrs. Saila Behera, Secretary, Basundhara in her introductory remarks had observed that Basundhara which remains involved in various ongoing struggles for the disadvantaged sections of society, considered Right to Information as an indispensable and primary human right and was committed to further its cause in the days ahead.
A two-member team ( Mr.Debashis and Mr.Mrinal) of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi presented an overview of country's RTI legislation, which contained inter alia a matrix of comparative Right to Information legislations at Centre and in different States of India vis-a-vis the Orissa Draft Bill. While pointing out certain weaknesses of the Orissa Draft Bill, they however described it to be more progressive than that of other States in essential respects.
A two-member team ( Mr.Debashis and Mr.Mrinal) of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi presented an overview of country's RTI legislation, which contained inter alia a matrix of comparative Right to Information legislations at Centre and in different States of India vis-a-vis the Orissa Draft Bill. While pointing out certain weaknesses of the Orissa Draft Bill, they however described it to be more progressive than that of other States in essential respects.
The tone of the discussion to follow was set at the outset by a reading of the selected excerpts from the recently released Report of the National Commission to Review the Working of the Consultation, which focused on redefining in sharper terms the accountability of the organs of the State like Legislative, Executive and Judiciary for transparency and good governance before the common public.
Speaking on the occasion Justice Sri Purna Chandra Misra, retired Judge of Orissa High Court commented that in the given scenario of chaos, indiscipline and irresponsibility that reigns supreme in each segment of the State machinery, practically little hope is left for success of the proposed legislation in providing people the much desirable access to Government-held information or in empowering them in true sense of the term.
Justice Sri Debendra Mohan Patnaik, Chairman, Orissa State Consumer Grievance Redressal Commission, in his precise talk observed that since the State Government have already come forward with a working draft on the proposed RTI Bill, the knowledgeable sections of the society need to focus their discourse on the minutest details contained in the text of this document so as to plug its loopholes, if there might be any.
Representing the Department of Information and Public Relations Orissa, Prof. Arun Kumar Mohanty, Editor, Orissa Review clarified that the Draft Bill Orissa R.T.I. Act 2002 is not yet a finished document, and is likely to go through a series of revisions in the light of the opinions and suggestions of the public that they would receive meanwhile, before it is presented to the Assembly for discussion and enactment. Prof. Mohanty assured to consider the recommendations of this Consultation for incorporation into the Draft Bill.
Mr.Man Mohan Praharaj, IG Orissa Police observed that in view of the universally accepted concept of proximate control of resources by the community, the proposed Orissa Bill should provide for each public authority to publicise their respective Citizens' Charter along with the detail personnel and procedure to avail thereof, in the Website on the Internet, so that any person, wherever he be, can access the desired information easily, without having to run to or correspond with the concerned authority.
While a section of the speakers emphasized the need for declaring Legislature, Executive and Judiciary of the State as accountable to disclose the information available with them under the proposed Act, another section, expressed however their apprehension about the provision of "Right to Inspect" mentioned in the Draft Bill, to be abused and misused by the vested interests.
Dr. Minakshi Panda, a Lecturer of Political Science who was the rapporteur of the Consultation presented a summery of the proceedings and observed that the detail report would be submitted to the concerned Government authorities for consideration at their end.
Such persons of eminence as Sri Rai Charan Das Retd Additional Secretary of Revenue Department, Ms. Manipadma Jena, Freelance Journalist, Mrs. Sabitri Choudhury, former Chairperson of Orissa State Social Advisory Board, Mr. Srikant Panda, Rajendra Prasad Singh and Bijay Nayak, all ex-M.L.A.s, Mr. Sourya Sundar Dash, Madhusudan Panda, Bilasini Pattnaik and Puranjan Roy, all Advocates of Orissa High Court, Mr. S.K. Palit, Retd. Director of Treasuries, Orissa, Ms. Biraj Swain of CARE Orissa, Ms.Sunita Pattnaik of CYSD, Mr. Swarajya Biswal, Government Advocate at State Administrative Tribunal, Mr. Ashis Senapati of Project Swarajya, Mr.Sashikant of Agragramee, Mr. Biswaranjan Behera of SODA, Mr. Rabindra Nath Sahoo, a social thinker, and Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera an RTI activist among others took active part in the deliberations of the Consultation.
Among other dignitaries who attended the Consultation were Mr.Aurobindo Behera, MD, OSDMA, Mr.Pradip Das, Commissioner of Income Tax ( South Zone), Prof. Jatin Nayak of Utkal University, Mrs.Supriya Pattnayak, Orissa In-Charge of DFID, Mrs.Kasturi Mohapatra, Director Open Learning Systems, Mr.Debasis Panda, Advocate, Mr.Madan Behera of OPUS, Mr.Pradyumna Patra, Social Worker, Mrs.Bhagya Laxmi Choudhury and Mrs. Pankaj Basini Mohanty of Utkal Mahila Samiti, and Mrs. Madhumita Das, a Consultant.
Mrs.Saila Behera
Secretary Basundhara, Cuttack