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Rajan Ghate bags National RTI Award 2010


Rajan Ghate, Goa's one-man-army against the illegal purchase of land by foreigners, is one among five Indian citizens to be awarded the National RTI Awards 2010 by the National RTI Secretariat, Uttar Pradesh. The awards ceremony will be held in January 2011.

During his days as the state president of the Nationalist Youth Congress from September 2005 to October 2010, Ghate single-handedly agitated against the illegal purchase of land in Goa by foreigners. The Assagao-based Ghate is now the NCP general secretary in Goa.

Announcing the awards recently, the National RTI Awards Secretariat stated that Ghate "worked relentlessly to fight against illegal buying of Goan land by foreign nationals in violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act ( FEMA), 1999 rules. He raked up this issue using the RTI Act. As a result, four years down the line, the government has started to take action and issue strict directions to the registrars not to register land in the name of foreigners."

The enforcement directorate has since been investigating various land purchases in Goa by foreigners and has even ordered some properties to be confiscated.

When contacted, Ghate told TOI on Thursday, "The RTI Act is the ultimate weapon that every citizen should use to fight injustice to curb corruption and thereby protect our resouces. I am very happy that my movement against the illegal purchase of Goan land by foreigners has reached the national level and many others will take up the issue in other parts of the country."