PM calls Govt & Corporate sector to practice transparency

PM asks voluntary disclosure of information in public domain by government & corporate sector.
The Prime Minister has called for voluntary disclosure of information in public domain proactively for greater transparency by the government as well as corporate sectors.

Expressing concern over delay in the disclosure of information not covered by the exemption provisions of the Right to Information Act, Dr. Manmohan Singh exhorted the officials to voluntarily put information in public domain without waiting for applications from information seekers.

He said the Right to Information Act is a huge step forward to curb corruption and improving process of governance.

He was addressing the sixth convention of the Central Information Commission in New Delhi today.

The Prime Minister asserted that the government is committed to make RTI even more effective instrument for ensuring transparency and accountability in administration by its initiative to enact a legislation for protection of Whistleblowers in the next few months. He said that it would, among other things, help in prevention of violence against those who seek to expose wrongdoings.

The Prime Minister said that the RTI enables access to information even from a private body that comes under a regulatory framework. This assumes an added significance in the context of an increasing number of projects being taken up in the Public Private Partnership mode.

He expressed hope that the corporate sector would put basic information relating to their operations in public domain voluntarily.

Elaborating the need to strike a balance between request for information and limited time and resources available with public authorities, he asserted that requests for information having no bearing on public interest, is not really desirable.

Supporting a critical review of the RTI Act, he noted that Information sought through RTI, should not adversely affect delivery process in governance.

Dr. Singh maintained that putting the opinions of officials to public scrutiny can discourage them to offer their honest and full views.