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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | RTI usage is slowing down in Mumbai

RTI usage is slowing down in Mumbai

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published Published on Dec 20, 2010   modified Modified on Dec 20, 2010

On his visit to the city, activist-turned-central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi interacted with Right to Information activists. DNA caught up with him to speak about the landmark RTI Act, which recently completed five years.

What did you gather from your meeting with the activists?

I feel that not many people are getting involved with the Act. There is an increase in usage but the rate has slowed. As far as depth is concerned, that is fine. In the last four to six months, 30% to 40% information about scams was accessed through RTI.

But I would say that activists should not interact much with the PIO or depend on them. Written application should do the job, without verbal or personal meetings. If it does not work, use the appeal mode.

The Act celebrated five years recently. Where is it headed at the central level and in the city?

I think across the country, there is awareness about the Act and people use it for purposes. Government officers have understood that they have to be answerable.

Ten years from now, people can look at picking up the phone and getting answers to any simple query. Bottlenecks should not be created through dilution by the government or weakening by pendency.

In states like UP, Karnataka and Gujarat, pendency has gone up to two years.

Is there a deep understanding of the Act in the government machinery? The Maharashtra commissioner had to distribute the rulebook to PIOs and FAA.

I think the overall governance and government is very poor. It has nothing to do with the RTI. It is a very deep problem. A person refusing to perform duty will become more responsible due to RTI.

But earlier, there were no penalties?

I have not seen a drastic change because of penalty. It is making some difference and they are scared. But just penalising is not going to change things. If that were true, we would have aspired to become Saudi Arabia. Punishment can be one way but that is not going to bring dramatic changes. Change is coming slowly with citizen’s pressure.

On your last visit, you mentioned government apathy and judiciary as the next big threat to the RTI Act. Are they still the same?

Nothing much has changed. Although, I am taking up section 4 compliance (to make RTI more effective). All facilities started or promoted through government grants, aids and charity with a condition that poor are entitled to some facility like reservations in hospital beds, Commonwealth Games funds, ration cards, caste certificates, I have asked them to put it up on websites.

Recent rules at the Centre have had vociferous opposition from activists. Your comments?

On charging queries, there is no such change, but wrong message has been sent and that has created confusion. The other was that applications should be only on one subject. That can be misinterpreted in a big way, leading to several applications at the commission level. The limit of 250 words was required as some people file applications that run to 24 pages. How do you expect PIOs to answer that?

Going back to the slowing of the RTI, what needs to be done?

I feel, more workshops should be conducted. Citizens should be educated through workshops. About 10-20 RTI activists should go and teach people about RTI and create awareness.


DNA, 20 December, 2010, http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_rti-usage-is-slowing-down-in-mumbai_1483553


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