Free
Press Journal: Mumbai: Monday, 23 November 2015.
The
Maharashtra Government has not spent even a single rupee on advertising and
promoting the Right to Information (RTI) Act, touted as a powerful tool in
curbing corruption and improving governance, according to an RTI reply.
In reply to
an RTI query filed by activist S B Repale, the General Administration
Department (GAD) of the state clarified, “The government has not spent any
money on account of advertising the RTI.”
The reply
given by R S Arwari, the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the RTI cell, also
said they do not have compiled data about the penalty imposed on the erring
PIOs.
Criticising
the government for its “lackadaisical approach”, Repale said, “Every
public-oriented scheme is popularised. Many a times it is even done with more
than necessary budget. But, it is not so in the case of RTI. How indifferent
the government has been towards this important Act.”
Another noted
RTI activist, Anil Galgali, also slammed the government for not doing anything
to make the Act popular.
The response
to Galgali’s RTI query earlier this year had revealed that 15 ministers of the
BJP-led government in Maharashtra had collectively spent Rs 2 crore to
refurbish their offices.
“This shows the mindset of the government.
They can waste common taxpayers’ money on luxury, but cannot spend even a
single rupee on popularising the RTI… This is because people in the government
know very well that if RTI becomes popular, it will blow the lid of their
misdeeds,” Galgali said.
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