ITANAGAR, Apr 30: The Department of Political Science, Donyi Polo Govt College (DPGC), Kamki, West Siang in collaboration with its Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) conducted a one-day National Seminar on ‘Role of Right to Information in Promoting Transparency and Accountability’ on Thursday.
Sponsored by the GoAP, the event brought together faculty members, research scholars and students from various institutions, with a total attendance of 88 participants.
The seminar was inaugurated by Tamo Riba, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kamba, in presence of Dr Tejum Padu, Vice Chancellor North East Frontier Technical University (NEFTU), Aalo, and resource person Prof Sailajananda Saikia, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences (Rajiv Gandhi University).
Speaking as chief guest on the occasion, the ADC encouraged students to make active and informed use of the RTI mechanism, acknowledging that while its application can yield varied outcomes, it remains a powerful and legitimate tool for seeking accountability from public authorities.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof Saikia elaborated on how the Act empowers citizens by guaranteeing access to government-held information, and how public oversight serves as an effective deterrent against corruption.
In his special address, Dr Padu described RTI as a ‘fundamental Act for every citizen’, emphasizing its role in enabling people to better understand and exercise their rights through access to public information.
Earlier in his welcome address, Principal Dr Gomo Karbak underscored the enduring relevance of the RTI Act, 2005, in contemporary governance, describing it as an indispensable instrument for ensuring transparency and institutional accountability.
The technical session, chaired by Prof Saikia and anchored by Dr Dipak Sharma, featured presentations of 15 research papers covering diverse dimensions of the RTI Act — its implementation, challenges, and broader impact on democratic governance.
The seminar provided a meaningful academic platform for examining the RTI Act’s role in strengthening democratic governance, promoting institutional transparency, and advancing citizen empowerment in Arunachal Pradesh.
The seminar concluded with the distribution of certificates to all paper presenters by the resource person, in recognition of their academic contributions.
Dombi Boje Potom, HoD Political Science, DPGC, who conveyed appreciation to all concerned for their efforts in making the seminar a resounding success.