TIR convener and prominent RTI activist Wahengbam Joykumar said the forum was formed recently after a meeting of RTI activists and other individuals, including human rights defenders, in the state capital.
"We are often targeted by officials who are in power when we seek information that could expose them. The only option for us to combat such oppression is to unite ourselves and collectively challenge it," said Joykumar whose RTI cases have benefitted many deprived people.
"We are organizing the first state-level convention on people's Right to Information on August 6 in Imphal with office bearers, members and our draft constitution to finalize our forum's name," added Joykumar on Sunday.
"During the convention we will warmly accept and take into account peoples' suggestion, advice and other modules to ensure that the forum effectively fights against threats and intimidations posed to its member," he said.
Commenting further on the plight of RTI activists, Joykumar said there were many instances where the officials and even powerful politicians allegedly engage miscreants to pose threats to the RTI appellants.
"We even lodged complaints with police to take action against those miscreants but to no avail," he added.
Besides, the alleged failure of the Station Public Information Officer (SPIO) concerned to hand out information sought by the RTI appellants within 125 days is violation of sub-section (b) of section 4 of RTI act, Joykumar said. Among other issues, most of the RTI appellants have sought information pertaining to schemes sponsored by the state and the central government since the act was passed in 2005.