RTI Knowledge Centre
The Institute of Management in Government (IMG), an autonomous body under the Government of Kerala, is the Apex Training Institute of the State, which plays a pivotal role in empowering the personnel in government by imparting need-based training. IMG, headquartered in Trivandrum, has two regional centres at Kochi and Kozhikode, to cater to the regional training requirements.
IMG has been identified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India as the Nodal Agency in the State for "Capacity Building on Right to Information Act" with the objective of strengthening the demand and supply side. In the first phase (2006-2008), the Institute functioned as one of the partners of Government of India in the UNDP sponsored Project on 'Capacity Building for Access to Information (CBAI)'. About 20,000 Public Information Officers, Assistant Public Information Officers, Appellate Authorities, NGOs and other stakeholders were trained by IMG and the District Implementing Agencies in this phase.
In the second phase (2009-2011), IMG has been included as one among the few Training Institutes selected by the DoPT for institutionalizing the RTI Act. The training component of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on "Strengthening, Capacity Building and Awareness Generation for Effective Implementation of the RTI Act" is presently being implemented by IMG. In view of the experience and expertise gained in the first phase, the Institute has set up a RTI Knowledge Centre for rendering advisory as well as academic assistance on all matters relating to RTI. Under this initiative, the main emphasis is on capacity building of the information providers of Central and State Government departments and local bodies. Departments which receive the maximum number of RTI applications and those with maximum citizen interface are taken up on a priority basis for imparting training
Activities of the Centre
The Centre focuses mainly on Capacity Building of the demand and supply side of the RTI Act along with several other activities. The main activities include the Training of Trainers Programme for developing resource persons on RTI at the District and Departmental level, specialized training programmes for the PIOs/APIOs/AAs of Central and State Government departments, PSUs and Autonomous bodie. Sensitization programmes for NGOs, Activists and the media for propagating the use of the Act for addressing socially relevant issues are also organized.
In our effort to strengthen the supply side, various activities have been taken up by IMG in the last few years including organizing quiz programmes for students, sensitization workshops etc. Workshops are organized for the resource persons of Kudumbashree network who in turn train their Self Help Group members.
Besides, the Institute organizes workshops and seminars in connection with the RTI Week, develops pamphlets, handouts, reading materials and handbook on RTI for distribution to officials and general public.
RTI Distance Learning Programme Using Video Conferencing Mode
IMG has successfully launched the Distance Training Programme using Video Conferencing Facilities of the Government of Kerala for training programmes on Right to Information Act, 2005. In this, IMG could conduct training programs simultaneously at multiple locations with Video Conferencing facility. The faculty and the selected District Co-ordinators will moderate the process, facilitating effective knowledge sharing .This would enable fast roll out to the entire State and better outreach.
RTI Knowledge Portal
RTI Knowledge Portal is one of the pioneering initiatives taken up by the Centre. This acts as single referral point for all relevant information relating to RTI in the State. which will act as single referral point for all relevant information relating to RTI in the State. The Portal has been developed with the technical support of the Digital University Kerala , previously Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management - Kerala (IIITM-K). The aim is to educate the public and the Government employees to understand and apply the Act and thereby derive its benefit to the fullest potential.
The Portal will provide authentic content on the various provisions of the Act, important studies, research papers, Power-point presentations, Government Reports, Circulars and Government Orders. The content is organized in user friendly manner with a view to target the common man. Important decisions of Kerala State Information Commission are also available in this site with key words for easy search facility. It has two unique features -
- An Online bilingual 'Basic Certification Course on RTI' where any stakeholder can register for this e-course and get certified online on successful completion of all the modules.
- 'Ask the Expert' service for all stakeholders. The online system for expert advisory service can be used by any stakeholder. This facility enables remote user to ask a specific question on the online portal. The question is then routed to a panel of experts who within a specified timeframe provide the best possible answer to the query. Moreover, the reply is recorded in a Knowledge Management system for subsequent users to refer. A compilation of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is also included which is updated periodically.
Registration for the first e-RTI course started on 9th July, 2010 and the last course concluded on July 12, 2022 on our first portal. A new portal with enhanced facilities was contemplated to address the shortcomings and technical deficits in the first portal and was commissioned on January 2023.
IMG has constituted an Advisory Committee for monitoring and overseeing the activities under this project with Director IMG , Shri. K Jayakumar, IAS (Rtd.) as the Chairman and Dr. Ram Mohan R, Professor and Nodal Officer (RTI) as the Convenor