The Times Of India
28 Sep 2008, 0656 hrs IST,TNN
Bangalore: How aware are the men who handle Right To Information (RTI) applications?
An audit on the implementation of RTI Act, 2005 by a group of six college students, revealed how much the Public Information Officers (PIO) understood the Act, and highlighted the challenges they face.
An initiative of the Public Affairs Centre, the audit covered 41 agencies in Bangalore. These include those under central , state and local governments among other organizations . The survey focussed on evaluation of PIOs - their understanding and experiences - and organizations' compliance of suo motu provisions.
Only 10% of PIOs scored 'above average' on parameters associated with awareness about the Act. While 78% scored 'average' , 12% got 'below average' scores. Only 10% of the PIOs receive more than three applications a day and the local government agencies receive 108 per month - probably the highest among all.
As per law, penalities range from Rs 250 to 25,000 a day, but only 39% of the PIOs knew this and 22% had no answers. Questions on the implementation process revealed that 80% of PIOs maintain manual records. Only 10% have access to computers and there are a few with no records.
An audit on the implementation of RTI Act, 2005 by a group of six college students, revealed how much the Public Information Officers (PIO) understood the Act, and highlighted the challenges they face.
An initiative of the Public Affairs Centre, the audit covered 41 agencies in Bangalore. These include those under central , state and local governments among other organizations . The survey focussed on evaluation of PIOs - their understanding and experiences - and organizations' compliance of suo motu provisions.
Only 10% of PIOs scored 'above average' on parameters associated with awareness about the Act. While 78% scored 'average' , 12% got 'below average' scores. Only 10% of the PIOs receive more than three applications a day and the local government agencies receive 108 per month - probably the highest among all.
As per law, penalities range from Rs 250 to 25,000 a day, but only 39% of the PIOs knew this and 22% had no answers. Questions on the implementation process revealed that 80% of PIOs maintain manual records. Only 10% have access to computers and there are a few with no records.
The officers also spoke about disablers like irrelevant applications, many driven by personal interest devoid of any public cause, need to provide information repetitive in nature , lack of proper archival systems and the inter and intra departmental delays.
Positives On a positive note, 76% of them reported their performance was periodically reviewed . And 70% of those who attended the training sessions found it useful. Though 37% of PIOs reported that RTI affected their work negatively, 63% of them are 'quite satisfied' .
Disclosures On the critical issue of suo motu disclosures, a website scrutiny conducted as part of this audit found that 44% of agencies scored high levels of compliance, even though the deadline for such disclosures expired a long time back. An onsite scrutiny revealed only 12% of agencies had a public display board stating the name and designation of the PIO.
State chief information commissioner K K Mishra said the study brought forth the deficiencies despite the small sample size, admitting the situation in the villages cannot be better. Besides setting up a separate RTI wing, the agencies should document the process with clear timelines. He also called for a simplification of the procedure followed to collect information.
REPORT CARD Low Scorers (12%): Bangalore University , BWSSB (sub-divisional office ), IIM-B , KEONICS, State Bank of India High Scorers (10%): BMRC, commissioner of transport, Lok Ayukta , Somanahalli Gram Panchayat Only 39% officers know penalty amounts under the Act 80% of them maintain manual records. Some have no records Irrelevant applications, repetitive requests are disablers