MGM

RTI-Introduction

The Right to Information Act (RTI) is an Act of the Parliament of

India
"to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to
information for citizens"
and replaced the erstwhile Freedom of information Act, 2002.
Background Purpose:
• Promote transparency and accountability in every
This law empowered Indian citizens to seek information public authority
from Public Authorities, thus making the Government • Reduce corruption
and its functionaries more accountable and responsible. • Make citizens part of decision making
• Make administration responsive
• Bridge the gap between provider and recipient of
public services
Process and Exclusion
Written/online request for information to the
• If life or liberty of any person is involved, the PIO is
department (Rs.10) expected to reply within 48 hours
• Information concerning corruption and Human Rights
violations by security agencies is to be
PIO(Public information officer)/APIO processes
the request provided within 45 days

Information accepted /denied

Exclusions
• Information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect
the sovereignty and integrity of India
• Information regarding Central Intelligence and Security
Information delivered within 30 days(direct agencies like IB, RAW, CBI ,etc.
PIO) 35 days(APIO request) • Information which relates to personal information the
disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity
 Online Receipt and Maintenance of
Upload & Update E-filling of RTI Generate Annual Respond to Opinion
Disposal of RTI Information
suo-motu disclosure Applications Applications & Appeals
Report of Citizen
Registers,etc.

Public
Authorities
Monitor the progress of (from Online audit of suo-
RTI Implementation of all Secretariat
sub-ordinate offices motu disclosure
to
Panchayat)

Generate Comprehensive Generate Annual

Annual Report Commission RTI Central Nodal
Report
er cum- Department
Secretaries Monitoring and
of Information
Respond to Opinion of
Departments Mechanism Commission
Monitor RTI
Citizen Implementation

Participatory Approach in Citizen Check Progress of

Decision Making Process Online Applications

Obtain Information from Submit Online RTI Check Online Application Float Opinion on suo-
Generate Annual Report
suo-motu Disclosure Application & First Appeal Status motu Disclosure
“ My experiments with Truth-RTI”
“It was all about marks and cut off
• Process was smooth, but there was confusion regarding whose door
to knock at
• Yes. It is true. It costs Rs. 10
• It was transferred from Higher education department to that college
• Reply was late. I got some data but my questions were not answered
and my questions for them were entirely different
• Lot of subjectivity involved in the format of RTI
• So basically I was feeling same after RTI”
Insight
National survey(www.)
45% of the people in our survey are Male vs. Female Urban vs. Rural
aware of the RTI and the process of RTI awareness(%) levels awareness(%) levels
30 35%
33%
26%
10% of the people surveyed actually 25
30%
filed RTI
25%
20
20%
15
• Quality of information from the RTI is
12% 15% 13%
not satisfactory
10
10%
• People are made to make multiple visits
to the PIO office 5 5%

• Non availability of a user guide/ manual 0%

0
for filing an RTI is one of the key issue in RTI Male Female Rural Urban
awareness
Stakeholders of RTI
• Citizens
Demand side
• RTI applicants
• Past applicants

• PIO/APIO
Stakeholders of Supply side • Nodal department
RTI Gaps in the RTI is
identified based on the
Stakeholders concerned

Adjudicatory • Information Commission

side • Judiciary
 Gap in Demand side
• Low public awareness
• Quality of awareness
• Constraints faced in filing application
• Poor quality of information provided

Means of filing RTI

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%

20.00%

10.00%

0.00%
PIO Office Post Online
Gap in supply slide
• Failure to provide information within 30 day
• Inadequate trained PIOs and First Appellate Authorities
• Obsolete record management Guidelines
• Non-availability of basic Infrastructure
• Lack of motivation among PIOs Chart Title
6
Chart Title
5
6
5 4
4
3
3
2 2
1 1
0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3
Gaps in Adjudicatory
• SIC Annual reports
• Perception of being “lenient” towards PIOs
• Lack of Monitoring and Review mechanism
• High level of pendency
• Geographical spread of the Information Commissions
Chart Title
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3
Vulnerability

• The Government and Judiciary is not very keen on the RTI Act and
may try to amend it in order to render it toothless.
• Government departments are rushing to courts to get stay orders
against the decisions of Information Commissions to provide
information to common man.
• Recent political party exclusion amendment will weaken the law
• Highly Manual system of information
Recommendation-Structure
Appellate Authority

Information
Committee
Central Agency Central Repository

Government
Department Functions of Agency
• Involve in the record management of the appeals to ensure
Help center/Online compliance with the provisions of the Act
Information Officer • Issue the guidelines required for the implementation of the
Manual
act to be prepared, advertised and distributed
• Cause statistics to be collected on an annual basis for the
purpose of assessing the compliance of Government institutions
Applicant
Recommendation for demand side

• Massive awareness campaign ( jago grahak jago , Hum do hamare do)

• Increase public knowledge and awareness (print ad, Television ad)
• This campaign should be divided into two parts. - National awareness program -
State specific awareness program
• Creation/Strengthening of a brand identity for RTI (Brand logo, tag line etc.)
• Increase the awareness in digital platform, social Media etc.
• RTI Education should be introduced in the school syllabus. Nodal Department
should work with Educational Boards in drafting a section on RTI in the school
syllabus
Recommendation for supply side
• Creation of RTI Implementation Cell/RTI call centre by
appropriate Governments
• Strengthening implementation set-up at Public Authority
• Annual self assessment by Nodal Departments
• Developing multiple access channels for RTI
• Address issues relating motivation of PIOs
• Improving convenience in filing requests
• Single window for submitting RTI requests across the
country which Would enable creation of centralized
database of RTI applicants
• Usage of Web-based applications for Public Authorities
Recommendation for Information commission
• Creation of more offices and using Video Conferencing
for Hearings
• Passing order on merit of the case without hearing
• Composition of Information Commissions
• Usage of Standard Templates for passing order
• Third party audit to ensure compliance with provisions/ guidelines of the RTI
Act by Public Authorities
• Arrange more training on Basic RTI fact and behavioural aspect of PIO’s
• Designating Information Officers and Appellate Authorities (empowering
PIO’s)
• Earmarking budget for implementing the recommendations
Results
Thank You