Activists launch forum to help file RTI queries

Times of India: Noida: Tuesday, 17 February 2015.

A group of 20 RTI activists based out of Noida and Greater Noida have floated a forum called RAF (RTI Activists Federation), ostensibly to protect and empower citizens who wish to come forward with issues related to public affairs. Collectively, the group aims to support anyone who wishes to pursue an issue with administrative bodies in the city.

The activists as a non-political forum, RAF would help citizens of Noida and Greater Noida to take a more proactive stance towards the public administration.

"The federation is here to help people file RTIs, take up causes, question issues of non-transparency in administration and even corruption-related issues. Anyone who wants to file an RTI with any government body in GB Nagar will get our support. If they do not want to disclose their identity, we can file an RTI on their behalf," Kuldeep Nagar, president of RAF, said.

According to RAF members, the topics they are presently building information on are environment and police negligence. "The falling underground water levels of GB Nagar, environmental hazards of rapid urbanization, police inaction are some of the issues we're building information on. RTI is a crucial tool for socially conscious citizens and we wish to involve more and more citizens in this," Nagar said.

Nagar cautioned that satisfactory responses to RTIs are few and far between. "Of the regular RTIs we file with Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities, we get genuine responses to only about 25% queries," Nagar added.