TIMES NEWS NETWORK
http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=4&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=TOIL&mydateHid=22-10-2013&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI
Indias Right to Information Act may be among the strongest in the
world,but public awareness about its provisions is low.Good news is
that citizens in increasing numbers are using RTI for personal benefit
or public good.
For example,after running from pillar-topost in the power corridors of
UP,70-year-old Gopal Narain Mathur could not get his fathers name
corrected on his death certificate.After attending the RTI
Workshop,part of TOIs I Lead India campaign and organised jointly with
NCPRI,Mathur now plans to use the provisions of the act to get a clear
response from the government.I went from one office to another asking
who was the competent authority to address my concerns,but no one told
me.Now,through an RTI application,I plan to get the necessary
information and finally,the changes made, Mathur,a retired government
officer,said.
On the first day of the workshop,presentations were made by experts to
a packed audience of young and old alike.The issues covered included
the importance of RTI,different sections of the Act,kinds of
information a citizen can ask for,how NRIs can file RTIs,and tips for
writing the application.Do not phrase it like a question, cautioned
Sharma.For example,to know how many safai karamcharis work in your
area,you could ask please provide me a list of karamcharis who have
been deputed to work in my area instead of how many karamcharis work
in my area, he added.
Praising the workshop,Ankit Bhargava,who owns an optical shop,said,I
had made a rough draft of the questions to be asked in my RTI
application.But I learned in the session that our application can be
rejected if we pose our questions incorrectly.I was also informed
about the right way to file an RTI application.
Sharma also told the participants that in addition to
documents,models,papers,log books,images and some other types of
information,RTI applicants can also ask for samples.The workshop
received tremendous response from readers pouring in from Lucknow as
well as neighbouring districts like Allahabad,Gorakhpur and Varanasi.
Covering three broad issues,the workshop spoke of neighbourhood issues
like poor roads,erratic water or power supply and personal
issues,specifically pertaining to government documents.These involve
matters such as delay in processing of passport application,pension
not being given.Finally,the workshop also covered broader issues like
fund utilisation by MPs or MLAs and how overcrowding is being tackled
in the citys jails.
PARTICIPANTS
LEARN & REACT
The event
helped us meet like-minded people.We will create an informal group to
fight for various ills in society
GIRISH BHATIA | BUSINESSMAN
It was helpful
and now I have no fear or misconception about the act.I will use the
information to resolve issues related to my locality
NARENDRA AHUJA | BUSINESSMAN
With the help
of RTI,I learned how we can bring systematic changes in the society.I
will also teach the procedure of filing RTI application to my folks in
Gorakhpur
SATYA PRAKASH PANDEY | SOFTWARE BUSINESSMAN
Oct 25
On RTI Day,step forward to file a query about issues that matter.This
is an I Lead India initiative in partnership with NCPRI
I received all relevant information required to file RTI in a layman
language along with important sections.It also created awareness on
different issues on which RTI can be filed CANDY SAINI | LAW STUDENT
RIGHT TO KNOW: A rapt audience picks up tips on filing an RTI
application at a workshop in Lucknow
[Previous] Times City [Next]
Copyright © 2013 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.
--
- Urvashi Sharma
Contact 9369613513
Right to Information Helpline 8081898081
Helpline Against Corruption 9455553838
http://yaishwaryaj-seva-sansthan.hpage.co.in/
http://upcpri.blogspot.in/
No comments:
Post a Comment