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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | The story of filing online RTI is only getting happier-Vinita Deshmukh

The story of filing online RTI is only getting happier-Vinita Deshmukh

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published Published on Sep 13, 2013   modified Modified on Sep 13, 2013
-MoneyLife.in


After several weeks of disgust over political parties trying to slip out of the RTI Act, good news beckons for citizens in India and abroad who want to file RTI online

Do you want to seek information under Right to Information (RTI) about public distribution of grains or demand a copy of your answer sheet in your Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination or seek details about a water conservation project of a gram panchayat, at the click of the mouse? Now, the Department of Food Supplies and Distribution, UPSC and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj-in fact 37 ministries or departments of the central government-have opened up the facility to file RTI online (see PDF at end of this piece for the list of the 37 ministries/ departments). The circular issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, on 30 July 2013, had claimed that by August 2013, all ministries and central government departments would have the online RTI filing facility. But that is yet to materialise. Despite this convenience that will further strengthen and make the use of RTI easy, there has been no awareness of the programs by the government.

In order that the Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and Appellate Authorities (AA) who are the first contact points for RTI applicants, the circular recommended that, "It is again requested that training to all the CPIOs and First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) may be provided by the concerned Ministry/ Department, through the officials trained by DoPT or National Informatics Centre (NIC). If required, further training can be provided by DoPT or NIC, on the request of the concerned Ministry/ Department. User name/ password to all the CPIOs and FAAs are to be provided by RTI Nodal Officers of the concerned Ministry/ Department. It is imperative that the RTI Nodal Officers update the details of CPIOs/ FAAs in the system and issue user name and password to them at the earliest.''

As for Indians residing abroad, thanks to the persistent efforts of noted RTI activist Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd.) since last five years, now 2,639 public authorities in Indian missions abroad, are open for online RTI applications along with fees via e-IPO. They cover various central government departments and ministries. Batra is also campaigning for availability of e-IPO facility for those residing in India too.

States Batra, "I sent 130 emails to Indian Missions between 19th to 24th August by searching their email ids in this link. As on 24 August 2013; I found 37 of the total 125 Missions (30%) have indicated e-IPO information on their website. During this process, I noticed the poor quality of information posted on RTI links on websites of majority of Missions. While many others have done a good job, searching RTI link within the website of Missions is itself is a job. I feel all of them should display the RTI link on HOME page of each Mission's website.''

Following is a sample of the emails Batra sent, reflecting his relentless efforts towards making use of RTI, cyber savvy. This one is to the deputy chief of mission, Vietnam and crisply contains the backdrop of his campaign and its fruition:

From: Lokesh Batra batra_lokesh@yahoo.com

To: Vietnam- Deputy Chief of Mission ; HOC ; Counsellor cons.hanoi@mea.gov.in

Cc: "amb.hanoi@mea.gov.in"

Sent: Friday, August 23, 2013 10:01 PM

Subject: Fm.Commodore Lokesh Batra: Creating awareness among ‘Indian Citizens' abroad' regarding facility of eIPO Payment of RTI Fee in FE, under RTI Act, 2005

23 August 2013

To,

The Central Public information Officers (CPIOs)

Indian Missions / Posts

 

Sub: Creating awareness among ‘Indian Citizens' abroad' regarding facility of eIPO for Payment of RTI Fee in FE, under RTI Act, 2005

 

Dear Madam/Sir,

1. I am writing to draw your attention to the MOIA and MEA circular letters on the subject "Creating awareness among ‘Indian Citizens' abroad' regarding facility of eIPO for payment of RTI Fee in FE, under RTI Act, 2005".

2. The details of two circular letters are as follow:

(a) MOIA circular letter F.NO.OI.11016/22/2013-FS dated 23 July 2013 and

(b) MEA circular letter No.RTI/558/01/2012 dated 02 August 2013.

3. The Government of India on 22 March 2013 had launched ‘Electronic Indian Postal Order' (more known as e-IPO) to facilitate payment of RTI fee from abroad in FE by the Indian Citizens' abroad.

4. Though it has been 05 months since the government facilitated e-IPO as mode of payment of RTI Fee by ‘Indian Citizens' abroad'; I have not seen this information being disseminated on your mission's website.

5. The website of Indian Embassy in Moscow has already included this information in their RTI link as below: http://www.indianembassy.ru/index.php/en/embassy/right-to-information

6. I humbly request you to implement the directions contained in the MOIA and MEA circulars respectively, in letter and spirit. MOIA & MEA letters attached.

 

Yours' Sincerely,

[Commodore Lokesh K Batra (Retd.)]

Social & RTI Activist

BringChangeNow

H-02, Sector-25, Jalvayu Vihar, Noida-201301, INDIA


Steered by Batra, hundreds of Indians living abroad had joined in his campaign. Unarguably, efforts for online RTI application and payment have been achieved single-handedly by Batra. For earlier stories, see these links:

www.moneylife.in/article/2013-wakes-up-to-online-payment-o
f-rti-applications-for-indians-abroad/30507.html

http://www.moneylife.in/article/near-victory-for-indians-a
broad-for-filing-online-rti-applications/24104.html

(Vinita Deshmukh is the consulting editor of Moneylife, an RTI activist and convener of the Pune Metro Jagruti Abhiyaan. She is the recipient of prestigious awards like the Statesman Award for Rural Reporting which she won twice in 1998 and 2005 and the Chameli Devi Jain award for outstanding media person for her investigation series on Dow Chemicals. She co-authored the book "To The Last Bullet - The Inspiring Story of A Braveheart - Ashok Kamte" with Vinita Kamte and is the author of "The Mighty Fall")

 


MoneyLife.in, 12 September, 2013, http://www.moneylife.in/article/the-story-of-filing-online-rti-is-only-getting-happier/34437.html


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