Mangaluru: Right to Information (RTI) and Human Rights activists of Dakshina Kannada came together to interact with famous RTI activist Nikhil Shenoy from Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, Rajasthan working with Mrs Aruna Roy at Roshni Nilaya Hall on Saturday, April 2.

The interaction began with a silent prayer for the deceased RTI activist Vinayak Baliga who was murdered on March 21.

Social activist Anna Maria Fernandes said that all the RTI, human and social activists should get together and form an association so that there’s a sense of safety.

“We need to be back each other up while taking up any challenge. The information we get through RTI Act should reach the public,” she said.

RTI activist Nikhil Shenoy explained the procedure to be followed by a RTI activist while trying to collect government information.

“The RTI activist should follow up the case he takes up. He should keep a track of all the events. The public’s faith in RTI will increase only when it achieves results in pro-people causes,” he said.

Social activist Vidya Dinker stressed on the fact the media should address them as ‘RTI users’ and not ‘RTI Activists’.

“Right to information is not only for RTI users. General public can demand information using the RTI Act. Using RTI effectively is true nationalism,” she said.

“It’s a tragedy that before the RTI Act came into existence, obtaining information was easy as the officials used to provide anything we ask. But due the RTI Act, now when we demand information, the same officials will ask us to apply and then wait for the procedure,” she added.

She further said the deceased Baliga’s RTI cases should be followed up by other RTI activists. And it’s not only about getting justice to his murder but also to the various cases he undertook.

The interaction ended with the decision of holding a meeting once in three months, getting together for a cause like Baliga’s and take up the pending RTI cases of Baliga. It was also decided that the members would be meeting the CM and Home Minister to deliver justice in Baliga’s murder case at the earliest.

Activists Rohan Siri, Nagraj, Thukaram and others were present.