The Special Cell for RTI established at the Academy during March 2004, to train the
Public Information Officers and Appellate Authorities of public various offices in the
state for effective implementaton of Maharashtra Rightto Information Act, 2002.
The cell has taken up varied related activities and has been entrusted with national level responsibilities.
Activities
Organising training programmes, workshops and consultation meets related to RTI
Developing training modules and reading materials
Carrying out research and evaluation studies and documentation activities.
Responsibilities entrusted & fulfilled
National Implementing Agency
DoPT, Gol, declared YASHADA as the National Implementing Agency along with
CGG, Hyderabad
The Programme funded by UNDP for 'Capacity building for access to information' in 26 states and 2 UTs
Conducting training programmes for the Central Government officers.
State Implementing Agency
Carried out intensive capacity building and dissemination activities.
Produced audio CD on RTI songs, also booklet on select cases dealt by CIC
Maharashtra.
Information about RTI Act is being translated in the tribas dialects of the
Chandrapurand Nandurbar districts.
Maharashtra State Project
GoM entrusted responsibility of training APIOs/PIOs/AA from districts and
officers from various Directorates and Departments of the State Secretariat.
27,702 officers trained in last two years.
Ford Foundation Project
Ahmedanagar district selected for intensive capacity building and mass
awareness activities.
1400 Officers trained. Training programmes to be conducted for 1310
Grampanchayats on Gramasth Din.
Sponsored Programmes for PSUs
42 programmes conducted for PSUs and other organisations
4,787 officials covered in such programmes
Programmes conducted using special need specific one / two day modules.
Books and Articles Published
Handbook on Rightto Information (Marathi/English)
Template for the Publication under Sect.4 of the RTI Act (Marathi/English)
Users'Guide (Marathi/English)
Handbook on RTI with Tata MacGraw Hill, Delhi (English)
Handbook on RTI with Rajhans Prakashan, Pune (Marathi)
Table Calender-2007 (English)
Book titled - Tila Tila Dar Ughad (Marathi, containing radio programme contents)
Diary of State Resource Persons
Articles in various newspapers & magazines 30 (Marathi / English)
Dasha & Disha (Marathi)
Publications with CGG & under UNDP
A Manual for Public Authorities Information Officers & Appellate Authorities
The Right to Information Act 2005 : A guide for media
The Right to Information Act 2005: A guide for Civil Society Organisation
Annual Report of Information Commission : A guide
A Handbook for Trainers: The Right to Information Act, 2005
Awareness Programmes
Supported production of radio programmes and documentary films on RTI in 14 regional
languages.
Rural Development