New Delhi, Dec 10: Union Minister of State for Personnel, Pensions and Public Grievances Jitendra Singh urged public authorities on Tuesday to improve their proactive disclosure practices in order to enhance transparency. Speaking at the 16th Annual Convention of the Central Information Commission, he noted that 1,302 public authorities submitted their transparency audit reports for the year 2023-24.
According to Section 4 of the RTI Act, public authorities are required to proactively disclose their records to reduce the reliance on Right to Information (RTI) applications. The minister emphasized the importance of this section in expanding transparency, as highlighted in a government statement.
“The RTI Act has empowered citizens by providing a strong mechanism for accessing information, thereby bridging the gap between the government and the public. It plays a crucial role in combating corruption and promoting a governance model centered around citizens,” he stated.
This year’s convention theme was “Contribution of RTI in the Journey Towards Viksit Bharat,” and it brought together information commissioners from across the country, senior officials, and civil society representatives. Singh pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ fundamentally encapsulates a commitment to transparency.
He also referenced the SVAMITVA model, which minimizes the need for physical interactions with authorities and highlights the role of technology in enhancing governance.
