Shillong, Oct 28: Officials of Betasing C&RD Block were trained on effective handling of RTI applications with focus on transparency and accountability.
The training on the Right to Information Act, 2005 was conducted by the Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute (MATI), Shillong, in four sessions led by Advocate Giles Ch. Sangma of West Garo Hills.
The first session covered objectives and key provisions of the RTI Act, including obligations of public authorities, proactive disclosure and roles of PIOs, APIOs and First Appellate Authorities.
The second session briefed participants on the Meghalaya RTI Rules, 2025, which came into force on June 27, 2025 — covering application procedures, fees, BPL exemptions, disposal timelines and appeals.
The third session dealt with exemptions, grounds for rejection, public interest override and partial disclosure, while the final session focused on practical handling at block level, including record maintenance, drafting replies, fee-demand letters and rejection orders.
Officials were also sensitised on penalties and disciplinary action for non-compliance by PIOs.
The programme concluded with case-study exercises and an open-house discussion.
