Right To Information (RTI) Seminar conducted in Moodubelle

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 02 May 2011: Fr. Onil D’Souza, Director of  Canara Organisation for Development and Peace (CODP) along with Ravikumar Crasta, a RTI activist from Kasargod  conducted Right To Information (RTI) seminar on Sunday, May 1, 2011 from 3 to 5.30 pm in St. Lawrence PU College Hall, Moodubelle. The seminar was conducted under the aegis of the Small Christian Community (SCC) in order to make the members of the parish aware of the importance of the RTI and also other various facilities of the state and central governments that are available for the minority communities.

 

Following the welcome address by Ignatius Monis, Convener of the SCC, Fr. Joswey Fernandes, parish priest of Moodubelle in his message said that empowerment of the community through the RTI act is very essential  and he thanked Fr. Onil D’Souza for volunteering to explain the significance of the act as well as other facilities available from the government.

 

Fr. Onil D’Souza, as a preface to his presentation said that the SCC takes up a number of spiritual as well as service oriented programmes in their respective wards as well as within the parish. However, he pointed out that many members of the Christian community are unaware of various facilities that are available to the  minority communities. He emphasised the fact that it is very important for the SCC to educate the ward members regarding these facilities and share information with them.

 

 

Through power point presentation of particular instances such as garbage dumping at the junction of roads, need of a bridge for the villagers, use of substandard materials for surfacing the road, etc.,   Fr. Onil D’Souza  highlighted the fact that such issues were taken up by self-help groups, mostly comprising of women and RTI activists and got them resolved, first by representing to the authorities concerned such as the village panchayat and Taluk panchayats and when they did not get any response by resorting to the RTI act.  He said that many  times common people find difficulties in getting their rations or gas connections. He pointed out that by invoking the RTI act, one can force the ration shop owner to give proper receipt and the gas dealer to issue gas at prescribed rate rather than inflated cost which the common people agree to pay as they are unaware of the actual price. Fr. Onil said that by using the RTI act a lot of corruption can be prevented and people can fearlessly face the government officials if they are aware of their own rights and duties of the government servants.

 

Fr. Onil D’Souza gave information regarding the Mahatam Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Agency (MGREGA) through which the government provides employment guarantee in rural areas for able bodied person for minimum of hundred days in a year. For this purpose the villagers can chalk out programmes of public utility such as preparing roads, water conservation, etc. Fr. Onil also guided the audience regarding the old age and widows’ pension as well as the scholarship facilities available to the students from the minority communities. He said that Christian students within the Mangalore Diocese  have done quite well in getting various government scholarships such as Merit cum Means Scholarship, Maulana Azad Scholarship and Pre and Post Metric Scholarships. 

 

RTI activist, Ravikumar Crasta answered questions from the audience and also advised them as to how to write RTI application. He said that the person who would like to get any kind of information related to his problem can do so by writing an application addressed to the Public Information Officer of the District with Rs. 10/- Postal Order drawn in the same name and he or she can send  the application by post.

 

The seminar on RTI was attended by Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Fr. Paul Sequeira, Fr.Lancy Saldanha, Alphonse K. Alva, vice president of the Parish pastoral Council, Mrs. Jacinta D’Souza, secretary and Mrs. Ida Gibba D’Souza, member of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat.