Principal Secretary (AR/Transport) R.K. Dinesh Singh, IAS, today called for increased use of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Manipur and regular assessment of its implementation to determine whether the law is effectively serving its purpose of ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
Speaking as Chief Guest at the inaugural function of the Right to Information Week Celebrations, 2026, organised by the Manipur Information Commission at the Auditorium of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Nityaipat Chuthek, Dinesh Singh said the number of RTI applications received and the effectiveness of the mechanism should be regularly assessed to measure progress.
He stressed the need for wider public awareness of the RTI Act, saying greater awareness among citizens and public authorities could reduce misunderstandings and conflicts and strengthen public participation in governance.
Dinesh Singh also called for greater proactive disclosure by public authorities, saying timely disclosure of information could reduce the burden on Public Information Officers (PIOs) and make the RTI mechanism more effective.
He said the RTI Act, which came into force on October 12, 2005, initially appeared complex because of its 31 sections and broad scope. However, its objectives are clear: enabling citizens to access information, ensuring transparency and accountability, curbing corruption and strengthening democracy.
The seven-day RTI Week will conclude on October 12, marking the 21st anniversary of the implementation of the RTI Act.
State Chief Information Commissioner Koijam Radhashyam Singh, in his welcome and keynote address, described the RTI Act as an important legislation for empowering citizens and said the RTI Week was intended to increase public awareness about the law.
Radhashyam Singh said the right to information is a fundamental right and requires an effective mechanism for enforcement. Referring to Section 4, he said public authorities are required to maintain and computerise records of their work to facilitate citizens’ access to information.
He highlighted the principle of maximum disclosure with minimum exceptions and stressed the need for citizens to understand Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the Act. Greater openness, transparency and accountability in government functioning, he said, could help address corruption, mismanagement and misuse of public resources.
The programme also featured workshops on strengthening RTI in Manipur and moving from transparency to accountability by advocate Dr Ch. Narendra Singh, and on proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act by Joint Secretary of the Manipur Information Commission G. Shantikumar Kabui.
State Information Commissioner Nungshitombi Athokpam, officials and staff of the Manipur Information Commission and the Department of Personnel and Training attended the programme.