Times of India: Kolkata: Thursday, September 14, 2017.
Queries under
the Right to Information (RTI) Act by a socio-legal activist and researcher on
alleged plans to set up an extension of the 114-year-old National Library of
Kolkata in New Delhi seem to have revealed unflattering details regarding the
prevailing situation in the institution.
Immediately
after the Central Information Commissioner (CIC) passed directions against the
ministry of culture (MoC) in August, Arun Kumar Chakraborty, the director
general (DG) of the institution, was replaced by Raghavendra Singh, who
continues to hold the post of DG, National Archives.
The first RTI
application on the matter was made to MoC by Biswanath Goswami in 2016. After
the replies didn't satisfy him, the activist-researcher filed an appeal that
brought about the same results; he filed a case with the CIC and the matter was
heard on August 7.
"Initially,
the MoC maintained that all my information is baseless. Finally, I produced a
copy of an email sent by MoC to the personal account of former DG Arun Kumar
Chakraborty a year ago, urging him to open the extension counter of the library
in New Delhi soon. Completely at a loss, the MoC official then accused me of
being politically motivated. On August 24, the CIC not only showcaused the MoC
official but directed him to provide me with all information and details within
seven days. I suspect that Chakraborty had to go as the mail was leaked,"
Goswami said.
While passing
his directions, the CIC noted: "I am happy and surprised that even today
somebody is taking interest in the library for public purposes. Why is the MoC
purposely hiding facts by passing out misleading information? Why are you not
providing information to him?"
The MoC
hastily sent Goswami more than 114 pages of unedited documents, including many
with file notings. While going through them, the activist came to know how
funds were misused and proper attendance records weren't maintained. The
firefighting system in the library was inadequate and several important and
rare manuscripts had either been destroyed or damaged. In one of the documents
written to her senior, a chief public information officer (CPIO) wrote how the
PIO at the library not only refused to provide information on attendance but
also made 'offensive' remarks. (TOI has access to all the documents).
"Lack of
reader-friendly services is aiding plans to shift the library out of Kolkata.
Attempts to set up an extension counter in New Delhi is just the first step.
Under international rules, an institution such as National Library can't have
such extensions. Its importance would get reduced and it would also get
derecognised by international organisations," Goswami feared.
Raghavendra
Singh, the present DG, could not be contacted. TOI sent him a WhatsApp message,
seeking a comment, to which there was no response till late Wednesday evening.
.JPG)
.JPG)
