Little understanding of RTI Act affecting functioning in UP

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Little-understanding-of-RTI-Act-affecting-functioning-in-UP/articleshow/14814067.cms

Little understanding of RTI Act affecting functioning in UP
TNN | Jul 11, 2012, 03.58AM IST

LUCKNOW: RTI activists from all over the state have come together to
highlight the plight of the RTI users and the failure of the RTI
infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. The activists have launched a
signature campaign to mop up public opinion on the half-hearted
implementation of the Act in the state.

The campaign which was launched on Monday has got more than 100
signatures of RTI users from the city. The users have also shared
their experiences, and want the implementing authorities to act and
remove the anomalies, most of which are because of the little
understanding of the Act among the government officers. One of the
users said that the public information officer, who had demanded extra
fee (as per the Act) from the user to provide the information, did not
know where the additional fee has to be deposited.

The lesser understanding of the Act is a roadblock in timely disposal
of RTI matters. Another user has raised a point about the appointment
of the first appeals' authority in the government departments. Many of
the departments have the same officer working as the Public
Information officer (PIO) and the first appellate authority. The wrong
appointments affect the functioning under the RTI Act.

At the end of the campaign, the public opinion will be submitted to
the governor, chief minister and the leader of the opposition. "We
have already submitted our charter of demands to the Raj Bhawan
today," said activist Urvashi Sharma. The RTI Act came into effect on
September 14, 2005. It was on March 22, 2006 that the UP State
Information Commission (UPSIC) started functioning. The commission,
since then, has got a huge pendency of RTI applications to clear.

Apart from gathering public opinion on the state of RTI affairs in UP,
activists have also drafted a nine-point charter of demands to be
submitted to the Governor, CM and leader of the opposition. The
demands include transparency in appointment of information
commissioners, quick disposal of pending RTI cases, speedy and full
recovery of fine imposed on government departments for not providing
information, at least 50% representation of social workers in the
state level committee constituted under the chief secretary for
effective implementation of RTI Act and protection of RTI users and
activists, especially those seeking sensitive information.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Little-understanding-of-RTI-Act-affecting-functioning-in-UP/articleshow/14814067.cms