Right to Information – CIC orders details of welfare schemes to be placed on website
In an effort
to bring about transparency and accountability in the implementation
of State Government Schemes, Maharashtra’s Chief Information
Commissioner (CIC) Ratnakar Gaikwad has directed all public
authorities in the State to upload “complete information” about
all welfare schemes being implemented by various departments on their
respective websites before April 30, 2017.
to bring about transparency and accountability in the implementation
of State Government Schemes, Maharashtra’s Chief Information
Commissioner (CIC) Ratnakar Gaikwad has directed all public
authorities in the State to upload “complete information” about
all welfare schemes being implemented by various departments on their
respective websites before April 30, 2017.
We are not
sure if this has been implemented by all departments of the
Government and former CIC and leading Right to Information (RTI)
activist Shailesh Gandhi who had originally filed the complaint has
in an email to CAP, requested “all NGOs to check
specific departments and see if the order has been implemented”.
Gandhi has added, “We have a great order
from a responsive commission and we must now ensure and enforce its
implementation.”
sure if this has been implemented by all departments of the
Government and former CIC and leading Right to Information (RTI)
activist Shailesh Gandhi who had originally filed the complaint has
in an email to CAP, requested “all NGOs to check
specific departments and see if the order has been implemented”.
Gandhi has added, “We have a great order
from a responsive commission and we must now ensure and enforce its
implementation.”
Gaikwad, who
invoked powers vested with him under section 19 (8) (a) of RTI Act to
issue a directive to the Maharashtra government, stated in his order:
“Section 4 (1) (b) of Right to Information Act, 2005 is the heart
and soul of the RTI Act, which makes it mandatory to all public
authorities to disclose information about 17 aspects of public
authorities which, inter alia, covers schemes implemented by public
authorities, and list of beneficiaries to be displayed on the
websites of respective public authority”.
invoked powers vested with him under section 19 (8) (a) of RTI Act to
issue a directive to the Maharashtra government, stated in his order:
“Section 4 (1) (b) of Right to Information Act, 2005 is the heart
and soul of the RTI Act, which makes it mandatory to all public
authorities to disclose information about 17 aspects of public
authorities which, inter alia, covers schemes implemented by public
authorities, and list of beneficiaries to be displayed on the
websites of respective public authority”.
To ensure
compliance with this order, Gaikwad has also provided a detailed
format in which information should be made public on the websites by
every government department. Details to be included are: name of the
scheme, its salient features, especially budget provisions, number of
beneficiaries likely to be covered, eligibility criteria, format of
application for the scheme, date of receipt of application, date of
approval, and date of rejection with brief reasons for rejection.
compliance with this order, Gaikwad has also provided a detailed
format in which information should be made public on the websites by
every government department. Details to be included are: name of the
scheme, its salient features, especially budget provisions, number of
beneficiaries likely to be covered, eligibility criteria, format of
application for the scheme, date of receipt of application, date of
approval, and date of rejection with brief reasons for rejection.
Public
welfare schemes otherwise largely remain a secret and there have been
alleged cases of large-scale irregularities and financial
misappropriation. Besides, there are many welfare schemes of various
government and municipal bodies but, often, intended beneficiaries
are not aware of these schemes, their eligibility criteria or how to
avail of them. The whole exercise of floating schemes is futile if
beneficiaries are unaware about the same or have to run from pillar
to post to get updates from officials in the concerned departments.
welfare schemes otherwise largely remain a secret and there have been
alleged cases of large-scale irregularities and financial
misappropriation. Besides, there are many welfare schemes of various
government and municipal bodies but, often, intended beneficiaries
are not aware of these schemes, their eligibility criteria or how to
avail of them. The whole exercise of floating schemes is futile if
beneficiaries are unaware about the same or have to run from pillar
to post to get updates from officials in the concerned departments.
It is thanks
to former Central Information Commissioner and leading Right to
Information (RTI) activist Shailesh Gandhi that people will now have
access to this vital information, at the click of the mouse.
to former Central Information Commissioner and leading Right to
Information (RTI) activist Shailesh Gandhi that people will now have
access to this vital information, at the click of the mouse.
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