Gangtok, October 09 (IPR): The celebration of ‘Right to Information Week, 2025,’ organised by Sikkim Information Commission (SIC) culminated at Chintan Bhawan, today.
The event was graced by, Minister, Education Department, Law Department and Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Mr Raju Basnet as the Chief Guest.
Addressing the programme, Minister, Education Department, Law Department and Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Mr Raju Basnet encouraged students to make effective use of the right to information, for their awareness and empowerment.
He noted that the RTI Act has transformed the relationship between the State and the citizen, from a paradigm of discretion to one of disclosure, from opacity to openness, and from passive entitlement to empowered engagement.
He underscored that RTI nurtures active citizenship, particularly among youth and students, by offering an early lesson in constitutional values and empowering them to become informed and responsible citizens of tomorrow.
Earlier, Secretary, Sikkim Information Commission, Ms Jyotsna Mary Karthak, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the ‘Right to Information Week’ as an occasion celebrated every year across the nation from 5th to 12th October.
She emphasised that the day is more than a commemoration, it is a reaffirmation of a democratic promise that every citizen has the right to seek, receive, and share information held by public authorities, thereby becoming an active participant in governance.
At the outset, State Information Commissioner, SIC, Mr Kuber Bhandari, delivered the keynote address, wherein he emphasised how the RTI has strengthened accountability by empowering citizens to ask questions and obtain timely and accurate information.
He highlighted that RTI has also improved service delivery in crucial sectors such as education, health, welfare, and local governance, leading to better targeting of schemes, reduction in delays, and greater transparency in grievance redressal.
During the programme, a powerpoint presentation was delivered by Law Officer, Ms Tshering Choden Bhutia. She underscored the primary objective of the RTI Week as a platform to evolve strategies for advocacy and to disseminate the message of transparency and accountability, while ensuring that citizens remain informed through the exchange of ideas and the spread of information.
The programme continued with an English speech presented by the best speaker on RTI Act, 2005, in the inter school elocution competition held on 12th September, 2025, by Deorali Senior Secondary School, Ms Shazia Noori, followed by a Nepali speech presented by, Modern Senior Secondary School, Ms OT Hangma Limboo.
Likewise, Minister, handed the certificates, cash prize, and trophies to the students securing, 1st, 2nd and 3rd position, from various schools of Gangtok.
For elocution competition:
* Deorali Senior Secondary School, Ms Shazia Noori- 1st position
* Tadong Senior Secondary School, Ms Choden Lepcha- 2nd position
* Deorali Senior Secondary School, Ms Numa Limboo in the third position- 3rd position
Subsequently, the best performance in elocution competition was secured by Deorali Senior Secondary School.
For Skit competition:
* Tashi Namgyal Senior Secondary School- 1st position
* West Point Senior Secondary School- 2nd position
* Modern Senior Secondary School- 3rd position
Similarly, the best performance in skit competition was secured by, Tashi Namgyal Senior Secondary School, Mr Arjun Biswakarma.
The event had the presence of Secretary, Law Department, Mr Suraj Chettri, Chief Information Commissioner, SIC, Mr YP Gurung, Secretary, DOP, Mr Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, IAS, SPIOs and APIOs from various departments, officials from SIC, officials from line departments and students from different schools.
The vote of thanks was proposed by, Deputy Secretary, Sikkim Information Commission, Ms Pranita Ghimiray.