AP govt brings National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme under RTI Act

[karira]

As reported by UNI in indlawnews.com on 4 August 2008:
IndlawNews

AP govt brings National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme under RTI Act

Andhra Pradesh Government today decided to bring the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, empowering the people to know the functioning of the prestigious scheme.

Talking to news persons, after the cabinet meeting, State Information and Public Relations Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy said Andhra Pradesh was the only State in the country, which has taken up the social auditing of the NREGP across all the villages in a transparent manner.

"Bringing the NREGP under the purview of RTI act would help the Government in curbing corruption," he added.

Mr Reddy said the Cabinet also approved additional loan taken from World Bank worth Rs 265 crore for Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) programme and the execution of project and financing agreement with the bank on January 25.

[karira]

This news report just shows how much work and effort is needed to educate people about the RTI Act - at both the media and government/politician levels.

The Minister makes the first mistake and UNI reports it blindly !

- Everything and Anything is under RTI. There is no need for any Government to bring anything under RTI. They can only take something out of the RTI purview by invoking Sec 24.
- Andhra Pradesh is of course not the only state to introduce Social Audit of NREGS. Other States have already done it. In fact the Ministry of Rural Development made this a part of the original Scheme itself.