A Second Right to Information Workshop was held for the National Academy of Customs, Excise & Narcotics, Dept. of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, in Chennai on July 27, 2007. The first work shop was held on Dec 22, 2006.

Additional Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Superintendents and Inspectors - Officers with vast field experience from various Centres in Tamil Nadu participated.

Kris Dev, RTI Activist explained the various Clauses of RTI Act 2005 and its relevance to create an informed citizenry, transparency and accountability as per the Declaration of The International Conference of Information Commissioners, Cancun, Mexico Feb. 23, 2005, as enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution of India.

There was lively and useful interactions by the participants on the various provisions of RTI. The Officers were explained, how the RTI Act 2005 can be used as an effective tool, through Suo Motu disclosures, to reach out to the citizens, instead of seeing a devil in it.

Live cases of RTI Applications made to various Public Authority and the actual response received was discussed. Mr. P. Ravindran, Superintendent, National Academy of Customs, Excise & Narcotics, Chennai, coordinated the conduct of the programme on behalf of the Addl. Director.


Kris Dev
RTI Activist
RTI Campaign
Chennai-600020.
98 408 52132.