IMPHAL, January 22: A training initiative titled “Empowring women through use of RTI Act” supported by the British High Commission and undertaken by the Manipuri Chanura Leishem Marup (Macha Leima) was launched today at their office. The simple function was graced by Chngtham Priyoranjan, Department of Economics Manipur University; laihaothangbam Sharatchandra Sharma, Former Presidnt All Mnaipur Working Journlist Union and Thokchom Muhini, President Macha Leima Human Rights Committee. Speaking on the occasion, T. Demona General Secretary Macha Leima said that RTI is an essential tool to fight against corrupt practices.
“We are providing educational and logistical support to grass root women for using the RTI ct besides empowering the women to understand and assert their rights and enable them to use RTI provisions pro-actively,” said Demona. Speaking at the function, senior journalist Irengbam Arun said that people in the state should actively start using the RTI Act. “It is not only women but a vast majority of the people of Manipur who are yet to be aware of the benefits of using RTI. We need to use the Act to know about how development funs are being used,” he said. The program also featured personal experiences of people who had used the RTI act to get detailed information of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.