The Sentinel: Guwahati: Saturday,
March 18, 2017.
The Right to
Information (RTI) Act, 2005 has come as a boon for Indian citizens, giving them
rights to access information and services they need from public offices. If
effectively implemented, RTI can bring in openness and transparency between
public authorities and people. But this very potent tool to keep the government
in check is yet to be used by the people of Assam widely. The main reason is
lack of public awareness.
Even in an
educationally and financially progressive district like Dibrugarh, awareness of
people about RTI is very poor. Many RTI complainants in the State don’t even
know how to file appeals and complaints regarding non-receipt of RTI replies
from the authorities concerned. This was revealed by the Assam Information
Commission in its Annual Report for the year 2015-16.
According to
the report, there were 2,385 appeal cases and 443 complaint cases pending with
the Assam Information Commission for the year 2015-16.
The
district-wise data revealed that maximum number of appeal cases and complaint
cases were received by the Commission from Kamrup (M) district in the same
period. During 2015-16, 1,089 appeal cases and 24 complaint cases were received
by the Commission from Kamrup (M) district alone. At the end of 2015-16, the
Commission had balance 1,075 appeal cases and 96 complaint cases, including
previous year’s balance cases, from Kamrup (M) district, added the report.
It appears
that Kamrup (M) district alone constitutes 52.32 per cent of the total RTI
cases generated in the State during 2015-16. Few RTI complaints were received
by the Commission in 2015-16 from Baksa, Dima Hasao and Dibrugarh districts.
During 2015-16, the Assam Information Commission received 18 appeal and 4
complaint cases from Baksa district; 14 appeal and 4 complaint cases from
Dibrugarh district; and 18 appeal and 4 complaint cases from Dima Hasao
district. “This indicates that awareness level about the RTI Act in these
districts is very low. The deputy commissioners of these districts should focus
on implementation of the RTI Act in their respective districts urgently and
should take corrective measures accordingly,” stated the report.
The report
further said: “During 2015-16, a total of 807 cases had to be returned to the
petitioners for not filing the same as per provisions of RTI Act, 2005 and
rules there under. There is an urgent need to educate the people about the
provisions of law so that they can file appeal and complaint cases correctly.”
The erstwhile
Congress government in Assam didn’t put stress on spreading awareness about RTI
Act among the masses. The present BJP-led coalition government at Dispur, which
came to power by promising transparent governance, should take measures to
popularize the use of RTI Act among the common people.