Local governments to offer information suo motu under RTI

The Hindu: Chennai: Friday, 18 September 2015.

Local governments such as Chennai Corporation have started implementing suo motu disclosure under Right to Information Act 2005. Residents will be able to access online a wide range of civic information once “all details of the public authority are uploaded on its website.”

This move follows the recommendations of a committee of experts consisting of retired Central Chief Information Commissioner A. N. Tiwari and retired Information Commissioner M. M. Ansari to further strengthen implementation of section 4 of RTI Act 2005.

“All regional deputy commissioners and zonal officers of Chennai Corporation have already received instructions on suo motu disclosure of information for residents,” said an official.

Civic information on the status of MLA, MP and councillors fund for roads, bus shelters, schools, bridges or drains is likely to be disclosed shortly.

“Access to information will be made user-friendly. Appropriate information technology infrastructure will be designed, developed and operationalised,” the official said. All the training modules for professional upgradation of employees will also incorporate matter relating to the virtues of transparency, open government and RTI law.

In a bid to minimise the burden of servicing RTI applicants, the government will put in place an effective system to deal with grievances and improve coordination and cooperation among departments.

Following an office memorandum by the Department of Personnel and Training of the Central Government, Tamil Nadu Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms Principal Secretary P.W.C. Davidar had asked all State departments to initiate measures to disclose information suo motu under RTI Act.

Information on the status of MLA, MP and councillors fund for amenities will be disclosed shortly.