Game for transparency Activists welcome move to include sports bodies under the RTI Act
The right to information (RTI) activists spearheading the cause of transparency in sports bodies have welcomed the decision of the State government to remind all sports bodies recognised by the State-owned Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) about its circular dated July 8, 2010 bringing them under the RTI Act, 2005. In a letter addressed to Secretary, Panjim Table Tennis association on March 22, Mr. Swapnil Naik, Director of Information and Publicity and Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to Government said all sports clubs and Sports Associations recognised by the SAG were covered under the RTI Act with immediate effect. It further directed them to submit information sought by citizens of India promptly. It further noted that if the information was delayed or not furnished, the First Appellate Authority-Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs could be approached, failing which the applicant could appeal further as per the law. RTI activist and sports lover Sandeep Heble, who released the copies of the letter here on Friday, told The Hindu that a few sports bodies opposed the jurisdiction of the Act by claiming that they were not substantially funded. However, the clarification issued by the government makes subsection 2h(i) and 2h(ii) irrelevant as far as sports bodies were concerned. He also released the letter he had addressed to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on October 15 2012, which led to the issue being clarified by the government. His letter had pointed out that to further ensure that there is transparency in the functioning of the State-level Sports associations, the State government had issued guidelines published in Gazette Series III No. 15, bringing all State-level Sports associations recognised by the SAG within the scope and meaning of the RTI Act. However, barring Goa Chess Association, no other State-level Sports associations had appointed Public Information Officers or had made disclosures as is mandated by Section 4 of the RTI Act, the letter pointed out. Moreover, Mr. Heble complained that some associations were even rejecting RTI applications claiming that the publication in the Gazette were only guidelines and were not binding on them. It was also pointed out that State-level Sports associations received direct government funding for various purposes including funds for organisation of zonal, national and international championships, and training and participation of sportspersons and coaches, among other facilities. Some of them also receive indirect government funding such as free and/or concessional usage of its stadiums/ halls to conduct its championships, meetings, and rail fare concessions. For all the compelling reasons in interest of the players and public at large and to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of the sports bodies the government must, by a notification, bring them under the RTI Act to ensure that they no more use delay tactics for suppressing information from the citizens. The letter had further urged the Chief Minister to seek the sports bodies recognised by the SAG be asked to fulfil their obligations of being a Public Authority as per Section 4 of the RTI Act like maintaining all their records duly catalogued and indexed in a manner so as to facilitate the terms of this Act, and to make suo motu disclosure of information for the benefit of the Public. Barring the Goa Chess Association, no other State-level Sports associations had appointed Public Information Officers or had made disclosures as mandated by Section 4 of the RTI Act Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/game-for-transparency/article5008752.ece
