Activist in the city have decided to launch a signature campaign for implementation of the state's government resolution on inspection under the Right to Information Act (RTI). The state government had come out with a GR to ensure that citizens can have better access to information.
According to the GR, citizens can visit public authorities in state and inspect documents under RTI every Monday from 3 pm to 5 pm. "However, a lot of people have said that they have not been able inspect information under RTI because public authorities have said that they are not aware of the GR.
That's when we thought of doing something about it. If the GR is properly implemented, citizens will be really benefited. It will also make public information officers more responsible when it comes to implementing RTI Act and giving information," said Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner.
Gandhi will be collecting signatures of various activists and prominent citizens and handing them over to the Chief Minister and state chief information commissioner. "Besides the GR, there is an office memorandum of government of India which talks about putting online information about the RTI applications and replies given. Citizens can access information that way too," said Bhaskar Prabhu, an RTI activist who is one of the signatories.
Former top cop Julio Ribeiro, former municipal commissioner DM Sukthankar, and Gerson D'Cunha are among other signatories. The letter also looks to raise the issue of RTI users not being treated well by officials and often applications not receiving responses. "There is a court judgement from Punjab and Haryana High Court on RTI users. We want to share that too," said Prabhu.