The monthly meeting of NHRDN, Bhubaneswar Chapter for the month of November was convened on 14th November, 2009 at 6.30 pm at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The meeting was preceded by a talk by guest speaker, Hon'ble Chief Information Commissioner, Orissa, the eminent Sri Dhirendra Nath Padhi, who is also a former member of the IAS.
Sri Padhi has been a visiting fellow at Oxford University, UK during the full academic year 1991-92 and worked on "India-European Union Trade Relations". He is a Master of Science in Physics with specialization in Electronics from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack and an MBA from Delhi University with major in International Trade, International Financial Management and Industrial Management. Apart from handling very significant profiles in Orissa, he has served the Government of Bihar, Ministry of Defence-New Delhi and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution as Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, Government of India and Special Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India, New Delhi.
Sri Padhi is known for his prowess in communication which has always captivated his audiences. He spoke on a very interesting topic – "Right to Information for future managers". This topic has been drawing attention from all quarters.
He spoke about the Right to Information Act, 2005 focusing on its objectives. The Act has an important economic dimension, as it embraces not only political freedom but also the freedom to lead a life with dignity, unfettered by domination and discrimination. Information disclosure in India was hitherto restricted by the Official Secrets Act 1923 and various other special laws, which the new RTI Act now relaxes. Sri Padhi spoke eloquently and incisively. The audience listened with rapt attention as he declared that RTI signaled a movement - a movement towards a really free democracy. He urged people to look beyond issues and look at RTI as an important philosophy, a way of life, which ensured good governance. He explained how information available through RTI was not an end but a means to an end - the real end being good governance. He spoke about creating awareness among marginalized section of the society and that the bureaucracy must be sensitized to the rights of others to know. The onus of information must be on those who govern.
The talk was followed by meeting of NHRDN members which started with status of all matters discussed in the previous meeting dated 10th October, 2009. The President welcomed all members at the outset. The meeting had a very good attendance like the previous one. The meeting started with members-to-be introducing themselves and President, Dr. S. K. Mahapatra welcoming each one of them.
