RTI Happenings: Urban development dept has maximum RTI grievances

[Sajib Nandi]

Reported by Timesofindia.indiatimes.com on Aug 2, 2012
Urban development dept has maximum RTI grievances - The Times of India

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) in its first year of implementing the Right To Information Act (RTI) received the most appeals and complaints about urban development and housing department.

In its first ever report on RTI tabled during a one-day session of the state assembly on July 19, GIC said 36,122 complaints and appeals were received regarding urban development and housing during the year 2006-07.

The energy and petrochemicals department was next with 6,268 unsatisfied applicants.

There were, however, no complaints and appeals for panchayats, rural housing and rural development.

An analysis carried out by GIC points out that against a six month period of 2005-06, after the implementation of the RTI, there was a nine-fold increase in applications the very next year. The numbers had gone up from a mere 8,433 to 76,957.

The GIC has observed, "In context of this Act, citizens had high expectations and different types of imaginations.

Instead of considering this act as a helping tool, citizens saw this as a sharp edged weapon. Their imaginations, expectations and excitement were therefore, found to have reflected in a large proportion this year (2006-07)."

An analysis of statistics from GIC has led to infer that departments and authorities undertaking programmes for the benefit and daily needs of the public, receive the most applications. Referring to the high number of appeals and complaints pertaining to the urban development and housing, the GIC further said that majority of the applicants were satisfied with information furnished as the numbers of subsequent appeals and complaints came down tremendously to 363 and 143 respectively.

GIC has also observed, "When the Act came into force in October 2005, officers of the public authorities were not well versed with provisions and ancillary duties. As a result, at different levels, a great deal of ambiguity, concern and to some extent, misunderstandings prevailed. On the other hand, excitement and a feeling of right prevailed among the citizens towards the Act."

[karira]

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Sec 25(1) of the RTI Act:

1.	The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each year, prepare a report on the implementation of the provisions of this Act during that year and forward a copy thereof to the appropriate Government.

It took the GIC 6 years to submit its first report !