The Government of India, Department of Personnel and Training, is implementing a Project on “Capacity Building for Access to Information” with the assistance from UNDP.

The Gopabandhu Academy of Administration has been identified as the State Implementing Agency for implementation of the Project in Orissa.

The project envisages a multi-pronged strategy for building the capacity of a range of information providers and seekers towardsoperationalising the “Right to Information”. As such, it aims at enhancing the capacities of government officials as information providers and citizens as information seekers and a range of stakeholders to facilitate the sharing of information.

The Project spans over two financial years, i.e. 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Two districts, i.e. Mayurbhanj and Ganjam have been selected for implementation of the district components of the project. The objective is to demonstrate improved performance and responsiveness to citizens’ demands for information. This would serve as a model of best practices and motivate other districts to replicate the efforts.

Under the Project, various activities are being undertaken at the State and District levels, such as training and capacity building; research and documentation; mass awareness campaign; clearing house; dissemination and advocacy; information fairs; multi-stakeholders consultations on district RTI implementation and work plan.

At the State level, a State RTI Cell has been constituted at Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, Bhubaneswar. Smt. IndraniBose, Joint Director (Accounts) and Dr. Monalisa Lenka, Research Officer, Gopabandhu Academy of Administration have been declared as the Nodal Officer and the Coordinator of the Cell respectively. Any communication with regard to the functioning of the Project can be made with them directly in the following address:

Similarly, at the district level, District RTI Cells, headed by the Collector have been constituted in Mayurbhanj and Ganjam.

A State Level Steering Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Director General, Gopabandhu Academy of Administration for planning the project activities and overseeing their implementation. Members of the Committee include the Secretary to Government, G.A. Department. The Joint Director (Accounts) and Nodal Officer, RTI Cell, Gopabandhu Academy of Administration is the member convenor. The Secretary, State Information Commission, Orissa is a special invitee to the Committee meetings. The Committee meetings have been held on 06.09.2007, 18.12.2007 and 14.05.2008 to discuss and decide on various issues / strategies for successful implementation of the Project in the State.

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING 2007-2008

 ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING 2008-2009