Differently-abled fights red-tapism with RTI

TNN 9 June 2009, 04:37am IST
Ahmedabad : Here is another sordid tale of red tape in the pension and provident fund department, where officials have turned a blind eye to people in need. However, a simple RTI application forced the inertia-saddled babus of this department to get their act together.

For almost a year, Rudrakshi Pandya, a differently-abled was pushed around when she demanded her right to a family pension after her father, a retired headmaster of a city-based school, died few years ago. Rudrakshi, was entitled by the government for a pension, under Gujarat civil services (pension) rules as she was unable to fend for herself.

Interestingly, pension department had all the requisite documents, including Rudrakshi's medical certificate and even the clearance from the district education office. But, for reasons unknown, she was denied her right. She later appealed in the high court against this delay and even got a ruling in her favour. But, despite this, her pension was delayed.

It was here that Rudrakshi's mentor, Falguni Mehta, filed an RTI application under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, which pertains to information being provided within 48 hours of the application with the pensions department. Mehta wanted to know reasons why Rudrakshi's pension was delayed, officers responsible for the delay, the grounds on which pensions for the differently-abled were rejected since 1980 and what punitive actions would be taken if the officers were found guilty.

The case finally came up for hearing before state information commission. State chief information commissioner RN Das ruled in Rudrakshi's favour and directed pensions department to provide information within 48 hours.

"Request for information of family pension of differently-abled needs to be considered as information related to the life of a person. Whether physically or mentally ill dependants of retired employees are facing any dire situations or whether family pension is only source of livelihood for such special applicants based on current status of applicant's pension case the information required is to be furnished within 48 hours," Das ordered.

The commission also recommended the finance department to consider issuing appropriate instructions on the matter for expeditious disposal of family pension cases of such disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of society.