JAYANTA KUMAR DAS |
| Blog | Posted By: hindtodaynews on:1/10/2014 9:15:19 PM |
(REMAINING UNDER COLONIAL HANG OVER, ODISHA INFORMATION COMMISSIONERS GETTING SADISTIC PLEASURE BY PROVIDING COPY OF THEIR DECISIONS IN ENGLISH TO A SIMPLE LITERATE INFORMATION –SEEKER WHO IS IGNORANT ABOUT THAT FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
Dear friends
As per the provision of RTI Act, each citizen is entitled to get the information in local language or official language. Under section 6 (1) of the Act, an Information seeker shall submit an application in English or Hindi or official language, i.e., Odia in Odisha to get the information. Similarly, each Public Authority shall disseminate the proactively disclosed information under section 4 (1b) of the Act in local language. Honouring these provisions of the RTI Act, all the State Information Commissions in the country are making all correspondence with complainant/ appellant and sending the copy of their decisions in their respective official languages. While Tamil Nadu Information Commission is providing its decision in Tamil , AP State Information Commission providing the same in Telgu. Similarly, Central Information Commission has opened website in two languages like English and Hindi.
But the Information Commissioners of Odisha are writing their decisions in English and not Odia. Since 2006, RTI Activists have been demanding before State Govt. for dissemination of suo Moto disclosed information in Odia and appealing Commission to send their decisions in Odia. It is very interesting to note here that Sri Tarun Kanti Mishra who is State Chief Information Commissioner is an Odia poet, novel-writer, writer of stories in Odia. He has been honoured by many literary forum as the Best Odia Writer But the irony is that he is writing his decision in English and compelling poor, half-literate Information Seeker to receive copy of his decision written in English. When Sri Mishra joined as Chief Information Commissioner, a delegation of Odisha Soochana Adhilar Abhijan met him on 18.12.2010 and requested him to send the copy of decision in Odia. It is needless to mention here that he is the man who has issued order to all Departments to make all official correspondence in Odia during his tenure as Chief Secretary. Many complainants have requested/ appealed to Chief Information Commissioner to send the copies of their decision in Odia. Sri Laxman Sahu of Ganjam (M-9337407364) has sent several letters to Commission to send the decision in Odia . On 6.1.2014, he personally came to commission office and filed a complaint in the Commission against Chief Information Commissioner for violating the law.
Similarly, one eminent RTI Activist Sri Kunja Bihari Patra of Nayagarh, 8th class passed (M-9861656487), has made request to Commission several times to send copy of the decision in Odia. Finding no action from the Commission, he has filed a complaint to Governor, Odisha seeking action against Tarun Kanti Mishra. RTI Activists of the state have submitted memorandum to Governor, Odisha seeking direction to Commission to give RTI-Complainant their decisions in Odia. But nothing has happened.
Sri Nilamani Joshi, RTI- Complainant ( M-99376-08082) who despite plethora of requests could not get the decision in Odia has filed a writ petition in Odisha High Court against Odisha Information Commission to get justice.
The Commission’s biasness towards English language has not only harassed the semi-literate- information seeker but damaged prospect of RTI regime in Odisa. Colonial mindset of Sri Tarun Kanti Mishra still continues.
With Regards
JAYANTA KUMAR DAS(RTI ACTIVIST), 9861770749(M)
CORE COMMITTEE MEMBER OF ODISHA SOOCHANA ADHIKAR ABHIJAN.