Times of India: Pune: Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
In 2010, Pune
Municipal Corporation (PMC) became the first civic body in the country to start
a RTI library to promote the Right to Information Act, 2005. It is in a sorry
state today, courtesy official apathy.
"The
library was a role model of sorts when it was opened. But its condition is
deteriorating. Finding basic information about the civic administration has
become tough at this facility," said Vijay Kumbhar, an RTI activist.
Kumbhar, who
was one of the activists who supported construction of a RTI library, said that
the reason for setting up the library was to provide easy access of public
information to the citizens.
"Apart
from providing computer-based information search facility, the library was to
be equipped with CCTV cameras. But things have not moved in that direction
yet," he pointed out.
Nilesh Nikam,
a former standing committee chairman who had announced the project in the
budget, said that the poor condition of the library was due to the apathy of
the civic administration. "Many civic officials don't want the information
to be disclosed to the public. It helps them to keep the library neglected. The
ruling parties should make sure that such initiatives are strengthened,"
he said.
PMC
officials, on other hand, said that it is doing its best to maintain the
library and make it more user-friendly. On an average, 10 to 12 people visit
the facility daily.
Sanjay More,
PMC public relation officer, said, "The citizens have been using it and
giving positive response. We are coordinating with various departments to
update the data regularly," he said.
More said
that mandatory information under the RTI is available at the library. If any
citizen wants specific data; he/she can write in the suggestion book and it can
be provided.
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