Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Right to Information: Spread Awareness , Simplify procedure

Even today around 90% people are not deriving the benefits of right of information. Even though there is quite a change during last two and half a years of its implementation. Still, the percentage of people who know about this Act is very less. The main reason being heavy charges and lack of awareness. Concerning officials/employees of departments are found to adopt go-slow methods in providing information. This keeps people away from exercising their right. Several times the official reply is that the information sought comes under the criteria of confidentiality. Sometimes these officials charges so much for documents charges that information seekers thinks it wise rather not to seek information. Sometimes these documents are not useful or say rather irrelevant to seekers purpose.
The biggest problem is that the governments themselves do not understand the importance or better say do not want to understand.
Around 80 per cent queries sought under the Act are personal, whereas some people use it with an intention to take revenge. People do not ask questions related to social issues. Though this Act has proved to be beneficial yet as it ensures freedom of information, there is still a lot to be done to make it useful in a big way. Information, be it any, should be given to the persons who seek them. Where is the question of confidentiality when a different system is in place for confidential matters. What are the subjects in general which could be called confidential. Information should be given to the point, to the person who wants it. If the RIT is implemented in real earnest then it is sure to create awareness among the masses and also bring desired improvements in the government departments.

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