Basics of RTI - Right To Information

Most of the time we crib about how the country is rotten rather than thinking what YOU can do about it, now its time to act folks !

Right To Information(RTI) is a simple yet very powerful tool to control corruption, I will let you know some basics about it and provide you with links where you can learn more about it.

Will start with example:

In my ward a children’s park is being constructed - it has very modest playing equipment( Just one see-saw, slope and a climbing grill) which I estimate would not take more than 50 thousand rupees, a bit of  investigation revealed that the sanctioned budget is Rs. 50 Lakh!!

Anyway in my case I did not myself use RTI, but RTI can reveal such information through which your resident associations/neighbour groups can chase your Corporator and hold him/her accountable.

You can use RTI for any of your govt related work, use this as an alternative to paying bribes to officials, check these links for some examples: 

http://www.indiahowto.com/dont-pay-bribes-to-get-your-work-done.html

http://www.indiahowto.com/how-to-get-your-area-cleaned-up.html

Who is your PIO ?:

PIO stands for Public Information Officer, every Govt department will have one or more of them. These are the people to whom you send your RTI applications, they would inturn chase other people in their dept to get the info you need, they are your proxies :-)

Steps in using RTI:

1. Go through the depts website and figure out PIO to whom you would be addressing the application. Use this site as starting point: http://righttoinformation.gov.in/ and then click on the state you are located. Eg: To find a list of PIO's in Karnataka search here:
http://dpar-rti.kar.nic.in/frmknowpio.aspx

2. Understand your problem correctly and frame your RTI query, remember you dont need to justify why you need the info also don’t scold anyone! just ASK for SPECIFIC information in a NEUTRAL manner.

    Sample RTI applications for various problems can be found here:

    http://rti.aidindia.org/content/view/221/76/

   

 Here is the standard format for most questions:           

 http://www.sakshitrust.org/FAQs/About_RTI/Standard_Form_for_Requesting_the_Suo_Moto_Declaration

                 

   Guidelines for framing RTI queries is here:

   http://www.rtiindia.org/guide/how-to-use-your-right-to-information-4/how-to-write-an-rti-application-1/

  

3. Hand over the RTI application to the PIO. For most central govt. departments, you can submit your RTI application with necessary fees in your regional post offices(most head post offices accept these applications) along with application fees.

  

   This link has info on how to submit RTI applications:

   http://www.rtiindia.org/guide/how-to-use-your-right-to-information-4/how-to-write-an-rti-application-1/

  

4. Use this strategy for additional follow up if necessary:

   http://www.sakshitrust.org/RTI_Tools/Daily_Use_RTI/Complaint_Follow_Up/

5. Most often just filing RTI application will get your work done, but incases where you find discrepancies between information received and actual work done(Eg: If I know that amount spent on park creation is just around Rs. 50,000/- but actual expense shows 50lakh!) then these are some options you have:

1.You can involve other RTI groups in your  city for further help in drill down.
2. Complain to vigilance wing of that department
3. Escalate to anti corruption bureau
4. File a complaint with Lokayuktha of your state
5. Involve news media
6. File a Public Interest Litigation.

     

Reference:

Basics of RTI can be found here:

http://www.sakshitrust.org/Learn_RTI/Online_Tutorial/

Actual RTI act can be found here :

http://righttoinformation.gov.in/rti-act.pdf

Good tutorial especially for Bangalore based people in dealing with municipalities:

http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/73-civic-government-rti-a-citizens-guide-to-using-rti-exercising-the-sunshine-law