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Only 15 pc villagers can file RTI plea
Veer Sain
Hindustan Times, February 18, 2008
IN
RURAL Rajasthan, 60 percent of the ordinary citizens have heard of the
Right to Information (RTI) Act, but only 15 percent have some sort of
understanding about the clauses of the Act and were capable of filling
an RTI application without help.
This
was revealed by a survey conducted by a non-government organization,
CUTS Centre for Consumer Action, Research & Training (CUTS CART). It
also revealed that 80 percent of government officials are aware of the
act, but only 35 percent knew about its provision.
For
implementation of the RTI Act, a single window system which existed
only in Bhilwara district, was an ideal model and could be replicated
in other districts. Capacity of the information providers needed to be
enhanced so that they could handle increasing number of applications.
The
report further recommended that government departments needed to work
proactively. The government needs to show a positive attitude towards
information seekers and put in place an easy process for filling of
application.
The
survey was part of a project called “Combating Corruption in Rajasthan
by Applying RTI Act as a Tool”, implemented in two divisions of
Rajasthan, Jaipur and Ajmer in association with an organization
Partnership with an organization Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF).
Results of the study were based on the data collected
from two districts, one each from the two targets divisions, an
official from CUTS CART said. He added that the results might not be
applicable to entire state, but were estimates.
During
the one-year observation period, against a target of 500 applications
to be filed, total of 737 applications were actually submitted.
Through these applications information regarding the schemes and
programmes meant for the poor in the rural areas were sought.
Declining to comment on the results, Chief Information Commission of
the state MD Korani said more awareness among general public and the
government officials was required. The Additional Chief Secretary of
the State Government, AK Pandey, however, said that the RTI Act had
come ahead of time. | 
