Pu John Neihlaia, State Chief Information Commissioner, Pu Mangjangam Touthang

State Information Commissioner, Officers and staff of the Mizoram Information Commission, Distinguished guests, dear friends.

It is a pleasure to be here with you as we celebrate the RTI Week 2025. The Right to Information Act, 2005 has ushered in an era of transparency, accountability, and participatory governance. The RTI Act has empowered and strengthened the very foundations of our democracy. Since its enactment, the Act has helped in exposing corruption and maladministration, and ensured that government decisions are taken in the light of public scrutiny.

The Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has continued to build upon the spirit of this Act through several good governance initiatives. Programmes such as Digital India, Open Government Data Platform, e-Governance Mission Mode Projects, and MyGov portal have all contributed to enhancing transparency and citizen participation. The emphasis on paperless offices, real-time grievance redressal, and online monitoring of projects are direct reflections of the Government’s commitment to openness and accountability in public affairs.

In our State, the Mizoram Information Commission has played a commendable role. Established in June 2006, the Commission continues to uphold transparency through a wide range of initiatives. The introduction of Mizoram RTI Online in July 2022 was a landmark step, which has allowed applicants to file RTI requests conveniently from anywhere, at any time. I am pleased to note that Mizoram became the 8th State in India to offer such online facilities, and that over 21,000 RTI applications have already been submitted through this platform.

The Mizoram Information Commission’s commitment to awareness and education deserves recognition. RTI Awareness Campaigns are conducted across all districts, even in remote and far-flung areas. Through these programmes, people not only know their rights, but also understand how to exercise them responsibly.

The inclusion of Village Councils and Local Councils as Public Authorities, and the designation of their Chairmen as SPIOs, is another significant achievement. This decentralization of transparency ensures that even at the grassroots level, the principles of accountability and openness are practiced.

The Commission’s regular monitoring of departmental websites to ensure suo motu disclosure under the Act is equally praiseworthy. When public authorities proactively publish information, it reduces the need for individual RTI requests, thereby saving time and effort for both citizens and officials.

As we celebrate this RTI Week, I am glad to note that awards for excellence in RTI compliance are being presented to departments and public authorities. Such recognitions not only honour good performance, but also inspire others to improve their transparency practices. However, while we celebrate the success of RTI, we must also remember that rights come with responsibilities.

The RTI Act is a tool for empowerment, not for harassment. It must not be misused for frivolous, repetitive, or vexatious purposes that divert time and energy from genuine public service. While government officials must be held accountable, they should also be protected from unnecessary burdens that hinder the discharge of their duties.

RTI must be a means of constructive engagement, not confrontation. Let us use it to promote honesty, efficiency, and trust between citizens and government. I have also seen a trend in some parts of India where there are RTI crusaders who make their living by cooking up RTIs to harass departments, officials and individuals. We must come down heavily when such an attempt comes to our notice.

I take this opportunity to commend the Mizoram Information Commission for consistently publishing their Annual Reports, which are also available online. I encourage the Commission to keep up the good work.

As we mark RTI Week 2025, let us reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment. Together, let us ensure that the Right to Information continues to be a beacon of hope, integrity, and trust in our democracy.

Ka lawm e.

Thank you. Jai Hind!