The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : RTI Act can be used to know workplace rights too

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 15, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

RTI Act can be used to know workplace rights too

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Awareness: Virupakshaiah, Commissioner of Karnataka Information Commission, speaking at a convention on RTI in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: The Right to Information Act 2005 is not just meant for corruption-related purposes but it is to also lead us to a utopia of free information, paving the way to transparency and accountability in governance, Y.G. Muralidhar, Director of CREAT, said here on Sunday at a workshop on the Act organised by the Trade Union Co-Ordination Centre (TUCC).

Addressing the participants, Mr. Muralidhar said: “Labour unions should make proper use of the Act to avail themselves of better services. If the Act is not used, it will die.”

The State and Union Governments have granted several social security schemes such as the ESI and gratuity to the employees. Workers can get several benefits under the Labour Law, Workman Compensation Act and so on, and labour unions should also use RTI Act as a tool to know their rights and the benefits they are eligible to.”

Mr. Muralidhar interacted with the participants about the implementation of RTI Act, application procedures, steps to be taken if authorities deny information and how to deal with stonewalling bureaucrats. He also spoke about safety at factories, Workmen Compensation Act, Labour Law, sexual harassment at workplaces and other issues. Anganwadi workers got their doubts cleared about the Integrated Child Development Scheme, Appellate Authority and other issues. Earlier, the Commissioner of Karnataka Information Commission J.S. Virupakshaiah inaugurated the workshop.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka