Silent AMC chooses to overlook RTI Act

Ahmedabad Mirror: Ahmedabad: Friday, 07 November 2014.

It has been nine years since the Right to Information Act came into being, but the implementation of the same leaves a lot to be desired. The civic body still does not consider it important to make public information pertaining to the hospitals it runs. Section 4(1) (b) of RTI Act, which is about Proactive Disclosure, asks all public authorities to make their working public by disclosing details like particulars of its organisation, functions and duties, powers of its officers and employees, budget allocation, proposed expenditure and reports of disbursements.

However, AMC does not share information on the three hospitals it runs V S Hospital in Ellisbrige area, L G hospital in Maninagar and Shardaben hospital in Saraspur neither on its website nor when information is sought. These hospitals do not have their own websites either. RTI activist Pankaj Bhatt who filed an application in July, seeking proactive disclosure of information about the hospitals, received a reply in September, stating no such information is available. He said, "The RTI Act was a revolutionary step and was aimed at making the administrative system accountable, transparent and corruption-free.

But here in the city, AMC does not give you information about its hospitals which is wrong and ridicules the Act. If people are not aware about the officials working in an organisation, how will they contact them. Even if they put up the information on the website, people can access the necessary information, but that is not being followed." The department of Personnel & Training of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions had published an office memorandum too in this regard.

"The letter was signed by joint secretary Manoj Joshi in April last year and sent to all states and union territories. Besides, the state government too had reminded offices about this. The GAD has written many letters in this regard to all government offices, but AMC is hesitant to part with information ," Bhatt said.

When asked about the pro-active disclosure by the hospitals, Dilip Gor, deputy municipal commissioner who heads the RTI Cell in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, said, "The hospitals come under Medical Education Trust (MET). So we cannot ask them to share the details. It is the duty of MET officials to ensure that the hospitals do so." However, Dr Pankaj Patel of MET said, "Hospitals do not come under MET. They come under the corporation. Only colleges associated with the hospitals fall under MET. Please speak to Mr Ashish Raja about it." Ashish Raja, deputy director, AMC-MET could not be reached despite repeated attempts.

ABOUT RTI ACT

Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act lays down the information which should be disclosed by Public Authorities on a suo motu or proactive basis. Section 4(2) and Section 4(3) prescribe the method of dissemination of this information.