Rising Kashmir: Srinagar: Friday, January 26, 2018.
Right to
information Act is seen to be the only peoples’ Act in the state which could do
miracles when used effectively. It can expose scams from grass root level upto
the topmost levels. This could be the reason why activists keep on stressing
upon the implementation of Section 4 and Section 23 of J&K RTI Act 2009
which make emphasis on pro-active disclosure and the mass awareness of the Act.
However,
unfortunately, due to the Government’s poor response, the Act has gradually
entered the stage of dormancy and the people at grass root level are
dissatisfied with the incompetent, irresponsible and arrogant PIOs.
PIOs nowadays
treat this Act as they do with their routine job. If we thinks with a broader
perspective, there is no need of the Act, if the Government officials perform
their duties honestly.
But what
could an unemployed youth do when the erring officials take revenge when you
file an RTI Application to seek the information which is your fundamental
right.
Here is the
painful story of an RTI Activist who was denied NOC for establishing
entrepreneurial unit, the reason being that he had filed an RTI Application in
the concerned Forest Department.
Karar Hassan
Reshi, a resident of Budibugh (Pattan), is a Master’s Degree Holder in Travel
and Tourism from Amity University, Delhi. After completion of his degree he
decided to become a self-entrepreneur by doing some business in his own
hometown so as to be a job creator than a job seeker.
Since there
are thousands of unemployed youth in the state, his intention was to establish
an entrepreneurial unit where he could employ some youth. He got training from
JKEDI, Pampore and registered the wooden joinery Mill unit with District
Industries Centre Baramulla.
Finally, he
needed an NOC from Forest Department for the release of sanctioned amount by
JKEDI. But unfortunately, around three years have passed and the applicants
file is still pending on the table of Forest Conservator Srinagar.
Karar
fulfills all the necessary formalities and criteria for the issuance of NOC and
the question is why he is required to move from office to office for the
issuance of an NOC?
He visited
every officer in the forest department for the redress of his grievance
including Chief Conservator of Forest Kashmir, Principal Chief Conservator of
Forest J&K but nobody seemed to help him. He begged and pleaded to these
officials but in response he got harassment, mental torture, criticism and lot
more.
The
divisional Commissioner Kashmir has already recommended his case to the forest
department for its approval but Conservator Forests Srinagar is not issuing it
and even not solving his problem. He also lodged his complaint with Chief
Minister’s Grievance Cell and this helpless cell also dissatisfies his expectations.
The Forest
Department blames Industries Department for the cause and both the departments
are playing blame game and ultimately it is the common educated youth who is
not only suffering but dying day-by-day.
Tail Piece
This was just
a story of Karar who being an educated could raise this issue. But what about
hundreds of stories of common man who cannot read or write? Does the government
care?
On one side
government says we are with youth but on the other side some officers misuse
their bureaucratic powers and positions daring the youth to do whatever they
can and go wherever they wish.
What can an
unemployed educated youth do under these circumstance and what he can expect
from the government? It is a question on the democratic liberty of this state.
Karar had filed an RTI Application in this regard which also brought negative
results and now he is being deferred with some non-sense answers like
non-availability of quota.
Since the
date of application, Karar has been told many times that a state level
committee will sit and solve your grievance, but till now nothing has been
done. When will a committee sit and then sign on a paper for solving the
genuine demand of youth.
His career is
on stake and he tried to start business based on legally imported wood which
does not harm conifers of J&K, but the department doesn’t allow him.
One thing
which remains a question is that if you are importing the wood, why you create
a hindrance in the way of these youth. We have the Public Service Guarantee
Act, RTI Act and the SROs of Departments, but all these go in vain when you
have corrupt officials on the important positions. J&K State Human Rights
Commission must take cognizance of Karar’s case and other such cases.
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