Resolutions adopted by about 17 groups of RTI activists from all across the country were compiled into the Shillong Declaration' calling for transparency in governance.
Former CJI JS Verma, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court AL Shah, former chief election commissioner JM Lyngdoh, activists Aruna Roy and noted RTI activists from across the country attended the convention, the theme of which was Reclaiming Democracy'.
In the course of the convention, special focus was laid on the issue of foreign funding of NGOs in the country.
"Prosecution of erring officials after RTI revelations, protection of RTI activists and proper implementation of the Act came up for discussion at the convention, the first after enactment of the RTI," an activist said.
Some 1,000 activists, including prominent personalities from across the country, took part in the meet organized by the Meghalaya Right to Information Movement.
Convener of the National Campaign for People's Right to Information Nikhil Dey said the convention assumed significance since it was the first after the enactment of the landmark act.
Selection of information commissioners and piling up of RTI applications in some states and the Centre were also discussed during the convention.
"The objective of the RTI Act in empowering people with a law to enable each citizen to know on what the government does is incomplete because those known for being guilty are not taken to task according to the law," said Meghalaya Right to Information Movement activist Angela Rangad.
"In order to achieve complete accountability and transparency, laws that prescribe legal actions against the guilty is imperative because it will be a deterrent tool for others," she added.
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