Online RTI filing once Devendra Fadnavis settles down

Four government departments in the state will have facilities for filing RTI applications once the new chief minister settles down. This was to have started around this year's Independence Day, but was delayed due to preparatory reasons.

The departments that will go online are Marathi language, minority affairs, environment, and culture & tourism.

These departments will have a dedicated website for filing online RTI applications. Besides filing, one will also be able to get replies through the online route.

"All the preparations have been completed. Staff have been trained and those who required training again have undergone retraining. There were some delays initially, and them came the elections. Now we will start the facility once the new chief minister settles down. He will inaugurate it," said PS Meena, additional chief secretary in the general administration department which looks after the functioning of RTI in the state.

"We'll see what all problems arise when the site (in the four departments) starts functioning. Once the functioning becomes smooth, all departments will go online," said Meena.
Maharashtra sees the most number of RTI applications being filed in the country. However, it did not have the online system until recently. At the Center, the department of personnel and training had started the initiative.

"It's a good thing that they are starting the website. It should contain all details on public information officers and first appellate authorities. It should also have details on the death of RTI activists in Maharashtra," said Vihar Durve, a Pune-based RTI activist who has constantly been demanding online filing and a dedicated website for RTI.

s_ashutosh@dnaindia.net