. It was passed after Bhaskar Prabhu, convenor of Mahiti Adhikar Manch, an organisation that promotes RTI, filed a complaint and sought measures where in corrective inputs for better implementation of the RTI Act can be done.
There is a ray of light for better and easier access to information for citizens. The state information commission in an order has directed the state government to form a technical advisory committee (TAC) in the lines of BMC for better implementation of the Right To Information (RTI) Act, and in particular, the suo motu disclosure. An order was passed by the state chief information commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad on July 30. It was passed after Bhaskar Prabhu, convenor of Mahiti Adhikar Manch, an organisation that promotes RTI, filed a complaint and sought measures where in corrective inputs for better implementation of the RTI Act can be done. It has already taken up such initiatives in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) wherein a TAC committee is formed and headed by former central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi.
"The reason for filing a complaint was that there needs to be a continuous dialogue for better implementation of the Act. Just having an Act is of no use. The feedback from the society on its implementation is necessary. The government should have a transparent way of functioning and all the details should be available on website. How the website needs to be up to date needs a dialogue. Same thing was felt by Yashada and a DoPT in centre also advocates the same. In BMC, we have managed to make sure that manual of functioning of each department and other important details are put on website. Similar thing was needed for government too," said Prabhu who is member of TAC.
In its order, the commission stated: "Undoubtedly, there are gaps in the implementation of RTI Act, 2005 in the Maharashtra state and there is an urgent need to address various impediments and shortcomings in the implementation of RTI Act, 2005." It added: "Regarding setting up of institutional mechanism on the lines of technically advisory committee of BMC is definitely worth consideration." The order directs the chief secretary of Maharashtra that by August 31 an institutional mechanism involving civil society organisation/experts in RTI be set up so as to enable constant dialogue facilitating taking corrective measures on regular basis with regard to implementation of the RTI Act, 2005.
Swadheen Kshatriya, chief secretary, told dna, "We will comply with the directives of the honorable commission. They have given us time till August 31 and we will do so by then."
Head: Info chief's order
An order was passed by the state chief information commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad on July 30. It was passed after Bhaskar Prabhu, convenor of Mahiti Adhikar Manch, an organisation that promotes RTI, filed a complaint and sought measures where in corrective inputs for better implementation of the RTI Act can be done.
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