Times of India: Vijayawada: Monday, January 08, 2018.
Touted to be
the best tool to empower common citizens, the Right to Information Act, 2005,
is not being implemented in letter and spirit in Andhra Pradesh.
A total of
42,782 second appeals those filed by applicants who are unhappy with the decision
of the appellate authority were are received by the state information commission
between 2005- 2016. On average, it takes 18 months for the second appeal to be
heard. In Andhra Pradesh, which has one of the highest number of pending
appeals at 12,456, every month about 681 second appeals are disposed.
A survey
conducted by Transparency International India in collaboration with the Union
ministry of human resources and state governments, found that 6,99,258 RTI
applications had been registered in the state, one of the highest in the
country. However, the state fares poor in disposing the appeals on time. It is
only behind West Bengal (17 years 10 months), Rajasthan (3 years 4 months),
Assam (2 years 8 months), and Kerala (2 years 3 months). The state is only
behind Uttar Pradesh, which takes 1 year 4 months to dispose an appeal.
Andhra
Pradesh saw an average of 87,402 applications per year, standing at 8th
position. Maharashtra tops the list with 54,95,788 applications, followed by
Karnataka with 22,78,082, Kerala (21,92,571), Tamil Nadu (19,23,388), Kerala
(19,9324), Karnataka (22,7808), Bihar (96,024), and Gujarat with 94,227 cases.
The survey
also found that for Andhra Pradesh, annual reports are available only for
period between 2006 and 2013. Report for 2014 is prepared but not put before
the assembly. However, the reports for 2015, 2016 are under preparation.
Out of 42,782
pleas, some 35,652 are second appeals, and rest are complaints. The percentage
of people who know about RTI in the state is also very less (less than 61%)
with state not finding a place in top 10 states.
For RTI
activists, the state information commission has always lagged in implementation
"In my case, RTI replies have been pending since August 2017. There have
been evasive, and inaccurate replies given by the Vijayawada Municipal
Corporation," Surapaneni Rama Rao, an ex-serviceman said. "We do need
proper RTI commissioners in place so that our grievances in RTI related issues
gets addressed quickly," he said.
The survey
also found there is low awareness about RTI, particularly among marginalised
sections. Information seekers face challenges because of non-uniform rules,
procedures, inconvenient mode and difference in fees across the states.
Other major
challenges include ritualistic approach by first appellate authority, huge
pendency, and poor quality replies by PIOs. Intimidation and threat by the
person in power is also not unheard of.
Other
problems identified are lack of political will for strengthening state
information commissions, absence of infrastructure and inadequate human
resources, and absence of culture of suo motu disclosure of information.
The
challenges identified at PIO are the ineffective record management system,
particularly in state field office, and departments. Inadequate training to
PIO, pertaining to key orders, and judgements of information commission and
courts is also an impediment in release of proper information. Limited use of
information technology in case management system, and e-reply during the
processing RTI applications is also an issue.
There is also
problem of understated positions of PIOs and increased workload. There is lack
of motivation and no incentives for good work.
The survey
also recommended use of innovative technology to disclose more information
through the government websites across all the platforms, including vast mobile
connectivity, and mobile applications. Replies in multiple languages will
itself make the system transparent. Some states use video conferencing to
dispose such cases of second appeals.
There is a
strong need for training and orientation of the government officials on RTI
Act, rules, and recent orders and judgements. The survey said that lack of
awareness among stakeholders will prove detrimental to the objective of the
RTI. Therefore, introductory material of one or two pages on the RTI Act, in
school and college curricula, can help raise awareness among the youths.
Post
bifurcation, the state information commission was also divided. As the
commission's tenure was completed, the state government is trying to appoint a
new commission.
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