Multiple RTI officials mockery of RTI Act in Sikkim - BJP

Gangtok,Nov24:The BJP today accused the Pawan Kumar Chamling government for gross violation of the provisions of the Right to Information Act (RTI) by way of appointment of multiple officials in each department.
The information seekers under RTI have been made to run from pillar to post to elicit replies to their specific queries as there were too many officials assigned for the job in each government department, the BJP Sikkim unit vice president Padam Bahadur Chettri told reporters here.

For instance, the Building and Housing department has as many as 18 officials assigned with the task of handling RTI queries, he said quoting to the reply of his question under the Act seeking the details of the government buildings constructed by the said department.

Not only that his query was returned unanswered, but the Building and Housing department returned his application saying that the query should have been addressed to the specific officials as there were 18 of them assigned to respond to RTI queries.

Stating that there should not be more than one official with each department assigned for the purpose of furnishing replies under the RTI Act, Chettri urged the Chief Information commissioner to ensure that the government departments in Sikkim stuck to the rules of the Act which was enacted to ensure transparency in the government.

Zero penalties in Sikkim Information Commission to 40 RTIs since 2005

GANGTOK, August 6: The Sikkim State Information Commission (SIC) would soon come up with a cache of publicity materials in local vernacular languages to create more awareness among the people about the benefits and usages of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI).
The pamphlets and booklets in Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha language would be used as a tool to inform about RTI to people at all levels.
Established under the RTI Act 2005, the State Information Commission has recorded zero penalties in the State in relation to 40 RTI queries filed with the SIC since it assumed office in 2005.
Sikkim is among the first States in northeastern India to issue a notification for implementation of the RTI Act.
The SIC has also conducted several training programs for the officers and bureaucrats to ensure better understanding of the Act. The commission which has its State office in the capital would soon set up district units at South and West districts to make RTI more accessible and effective for the people of the districts.
It is also learnt that, though the State’s performance hasn’t been ranked at the national level, the State report for 2007-09 has been forwarded to the State government for its consent and approval. The report would then be sent to the National Information Commission for further analysis.
The Right to Information Act 2005 was enacted by the Parliament of India giving its citizens’ access to records of the Government at all levels. The Act, guarantees that any citizen may request information from a ‘public authority’ (a Government body) which is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days.
Information disclosure in India was hitherto restricted by the Official Secrets Act 1923 and various other special laws, which the new RTI Act now relaxes

Sikkim takes up RTI awareness in local languages

GANGTOK, 6 AUG: The Sikkim State Information Commission would issue material in vernacular languages to create awareness about the benefits and usages of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI). Pamphlets and booklets in Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha languages would be used for the purpose. Established under the RTI Act 2005, the SIC has recorded zero penalty in the state in relation to 40 RTI queries filed with the SIC since it assumed office in 2005. Sikkim is among the first of the northeastern states to issue a notification for implementing the RTI Act.
The SIC has also conducted several training programmes for state government officers and bureaucrats to ensure better understanding of the Act.
The commission would soon set up district units in South and West districts to make RTI more accessible and effective for the people of the districts.
It is also learnt that, though the state's performance hasn't been ranked at the national level, the state report for 2007-09 has been forwarded to the Assembly for consent and approval. It would then be sent to the National Information Commission for further analysis.

Officers denying information under RTI can be jailed

NewDelhi : The government will come down heavily on officers who do not respond to applications seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding rural development work.
"We will not spare any officer found erring when it comes to giving information under the RTI Act," Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said here Wednesday.
"Such officials will go to jail."
The minister's comments came when it was pointed out to him that a politician-bureaucrat-contractor nexus in Assam was harassing people who sought information on rural development work under the RTI Act. He was addressing a press conference on his ministry's ongoing projects in Assam.
When told that most of the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA) offices in Assam have got the reputation of being corrupt, the minister said, "Whenever such cases come to our notice, we will take strict action against the officers concerned. We are also launching awareness campaigns in rural areas so that people know their rights."
To another question on contractors taking up work under the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), a government-housing scheme for people below the poverty line, he said, "There is no provision whatsoever for IAY work to be allocated to contractors. Strict action will be taken against anybody found doing so."
He clarified that, under this scheme, the money goes straight to the beneficiary's bank account and there is no scope for middlemen to swindle money.
"Each family gets Rs.22,000 under IAY, and in the hill areas, the amount is Rs.27,000," he added.
Singh also stated that, to ensure transparency in rural development work at the grassroots level, the government is giving special attention to village level vigilance committees.
"Village level vigilance committees are being constituted and they are being imparted training so that corruption is totally eradicated," he said.

(IANS)