Karnataka Guv urges digitisation, simplification of RTI on 20th anniversary
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday emphasised the need to digitise and simplify the RTI process to boost transparency and strengthen governance.
Addressing an event marking 20 years of the Right to Information Act, Gehlot said, "The need of the hour is to completely digitise and simplify the Right to Information (RTI) process, enhance the independence and efficiency of Information Commissions, and, most importantly, nurture transparency as a moral value in governance."
He stressed increasing the use of Information Technology at all levels of governance.
"Increasing the use of Information Technology at all levels of governance will automatically lead to transparency," he added.
Highlighting challenges in implementing the RTI Act, the governor said that misuse of the Act, the rising burden on public offices, and a lack of public awareness remain major issues.
"It is essential to understand the true power of the RTI Act, prevent its misuse, and ensure that every citizen can effectively exercise this right," Gehlot said.
He noted that greater use of technology in administration will enhance transparency and public awareness, empowering citizens to recognise RTI as their own right.
“The RTI Act is a people’s right that strengthens the very spirit of democracy. It lays the foundation for accountability, transparency, and mutual trust between the government and the citizens. The RTI Act is not just a legal provision—it is a democratic instrument that bridges the gap between citizens and the government,” the governor said.
Stressing citizen awareness, he added, “When citizens are aware, the administration becomes accountable. The Right to Information is the cornerstone of this awareness—it empowers citizens and ensures administrative responsibility.”
Gehlot said that over the past two decades, the RTI Act has transformed governance by promoting transparency, curbing corruption, enhancing citizen participation, and driving administrative reforms.
Calling for collective efforts to strengthen the Act, he said, “There is a need to hold a thoughtful dialogue on how to reinforce this right in the days to come.”
He also suggested that pending appeals before the Information Commissions be disposed of expeditiously.
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Climate Change crisis: IMD to change parameters to declare heatwaves
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The IMD, along with its technical partners, will soon revise the criteria for declaring heatwave conditions in the country, as the present parameters do not suit India’s geographical conditions, according to official sources here.
Kerala, in particular, has faced difficulties in issuing heatwave warnings because of the limitations of the existing parameters.
Sources in the India Meteorological Department said the state experienced severe heat and humidity this summer and, for the first time, weather forecasts were made based on the anti-cyclone system that formed near the Karnataka–Maharashtra coast.
"We have never had an anti-cyclone system form closer to the South before, and this time we had to predict the weather based on it," a senior IMD official told PTI.
Anti-cyclonic systems are common over north-western parts of India, but this year one formed near the southern region, leading to unusually hot nights.
The anti-cyclone caused downward air movement, which pushed warm air towards the surface and prevented it from dispersing at night, the official added. As a result, Kerala recorded night temperatures 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal.
Because Kerala has experienced a steady temperature increase during the summer months for the last few years, changing the parameters for declaring heat waves would benefit the state, enabling the authorities to issue warnings more efficiently, the official added.
The IMD currently issues hot and humid weather warnings, although the situation warrants a heatwave warning, as the existing parameters do not allow the department to issue one.
At present, the IMD issues a heat wave warning in coastal areas when the maximum temperature reaches 37 degree Celsius or more with a temperature departure of 4.5 degree Celsius over the recorded maximum temperature.
For plains, the threshold is 40 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 degrees Celsius or more from normal, while for hilly regions it is 30 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 degrees Celsius or more.
Officials said the current heatwave declaration parameters also require these conditions to be recorded at two stations in the state to issue the warnings.
"In Kerala, we hardly get to record these conditions in two areas; moreover, we have severe heat stress that can easily cause a heat stroke. So we have decided to rework the heatwave declaration parameters and the changes will be implemented shortly. There will be a consultation with the Disaster Management Authority also before finalising the parameters," the official said.
Throughout Kerala, temperatures recorded this summer were three to four degrees Celsius higher than usual. The state also reported multiple cases of heatstroke despite regular warnings issued by the IMD and the state disaster management authority.
According to experts, Kerala has become a climate change hotspot, with a steady increase in atmospheric temperatures and erratic monsoons.
The IMD has also predicted a below-normal monsoon this year, as this is the first time two consecutive El Nino years are being witnessed.
