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.

Youth association slams Nayuma television

GANGTOK, August 27: All Sikkim Educated Self-Employed and Unemployed Youth Association has demanded the Nayuma Cable Television to publicize how much it pays to national television channel packages every month.
The youth body president TB Rai had issued a press statement making the above demand. In the press statement, Mr. Rai also released an RTI document where the numbers of subscribers to the above Gangtok based cable television is 1041 as per the figures of November last year.
The licence fee and entertainment tax are charged to the cable television as per rule, the State urban development department had said in the RTI.

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.

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON RTI LAUNCHED IN SIKKIM

GANGTOK, October 15: A statewide awareness campaign on the Right to Information Act was launched today afternoon here at the Titanic Park.
Organised by the Accounts and Administrative Training Institute (AATI), the campaign featured a power point presentation on the basic features of RTI Act, which includes its definition, extent, commencement, RTI and obligations of public authority, appointment of Public Information Officers (PIOs), applications of information, disposal of applications, exemption for disclosure, severability and many others related with the act. Also included in the campaign was the distribution of pamphlets highlighting on the information about RTI Act in Nepali language to the local populace. The AATI has also organized campaigns of such kind at Karfectar, Jorethang, South Sikkim and Rhenock in East Sikkim.
The State Nodal Officer for RTI Act in Sikkim, Bhim Thatal while speaking to mediapersons stated that the hitch in receiving the allocated funds from the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) has been one of the main reasons behind the delay in implementing the Act here in the state, which actually was supposed to start in 2006.
Despite the fact that the implementation of the RTI Act has been delayed in Sikkim for about one year, we will ensure that the designated task of implementing the same Act in the State is completed by the end of 2010, Thatal added.
He also added that they will approach the Panchayats and Block Development Offices to disseminate the information of RTI Act soon after the Panchayat elections are over.
The two-day long campaign will continue till October 16 here at Titanic Park.
The Government of India enacted the Right To Information Act on June 15, 2005 with a declaration that the public authorities should implement the same Act in the country within 120 days owing to failure on the part of the latter (the public authorities) to fulfill upon certain eligibility criteria particularly the appointment of PIO’s under section 41 b of the act.
The designated time duration of 120 days came to a close on October 15, 2005 thereby opening up of floodgates for the RTI Act to come into full force from the same year.
The RTI Act is a fundamental right and therefore acts as a medium to realize the right to freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in Article 19 (1) (a) of the Indian Constitution.
So far a total of 56 countries in the world including India have implemented the RTI Act.
In India, the duos-Central for Good Governance in Hyderabad and Yaswant Rao Chavan Academy of Development Administration in Pune has been designated as the National Implementing Agency to implement the RTI Act under the sponsorship of UNDP.
The Government of India through the training section of Department of Personnel has been chosen as the monitoring agency to monitor the UNDP programme in the country.
Likewise in the case with Sikkim, the AATI is the State Implementing Agency for the RTI Act with an allocated fund of Rs 20 lakhs (Rs 6 lakhs for State component and Rs 7 lakhs each for the District component).
It may also be mentioned here that owing to more population and the greater need for awareness campaign related to the Act, the East and South districts of the State have been identified under the district component

Sikkim Information Commission launches its website

Gangtok,October4: The Sikkim State Information Commissioner, D.K.Gazmer, last week launched the website of the State Information Commission and released one booklet on ' Right to Information Awareness 'on the Sikkim Information Commission.

Talking to mediapersons after the launching the website "http://www.cicsikkim.gov.in/ he said that it contained detailed information about the Right to Information Act and its relevant provisions of laws and rules made there under.
Copies of important orders,rules and regulations issued by the Commission are available on the website besides the `relevant information and details' and formats of all forms required under the Right to Information Act.

ACT organise awareness campaign on Right to Information & Environment Concerns

Gangtok: Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) in association with Kalpavriksh Environment Action Group is conducting an awareness seminar on the subject of "Use of Right of Information act to address problems and issues with the seeking of information from government and its authorities on environmental related details.

The programme aims to create better awareness about the rights of citizens to receive information through the usage of 'Right to Information Act' to environmental queries or any other concerns.

The programme is conducted by eminent national personalities from the field of Law & Environment activism .

Other associations also participating in the Seminar includes Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim(CLOS) ,Sangha of Dzongu (SOD) ,SIBLAC, & Sikkimese Association for Environment
(SAFE).

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)