Thursday 29 April, 2010

Fwd: RTI Monitoring Rules

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Justice Kamleshwar Nath
To: urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@gmail.com


Dear Friends,

I attach herewith my latest write-up in matters concerning RTI to
propose that the State Government and Governor should frame Rules under
Sections 27 and 28 of RTI Act to set up a mechanism for appointment of Chief
Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners, and to monitor the
working of the Information Commission. I request you to study the paper
deeply and give your suggestions for what the Rules should contain. The idea
is that on the basis of well thought out and practical concepts, a draft of
Rules may be prepared and be forwarded with a Memorandum to State Government
and Governor to adopt so that the Act becomes really effective.

We can send the draft also to President of India and Prime
Minister in the context of Section 12 of the Act.

Regards,

KN

From the Desk of :

Justice Kamleshwar Nath


Retd.

:

Up-Lokayukta ( Karnataka ),

Vice Chairman - C.A.T ( Allahabad ),

Judge - High Court ( Lucknow & Allahabad )

iipm article on right to information success story

http://iipmarticlepublicationiipm.blogspot.com/2010/04/little-big-girl.html

--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Tuesday 27 April, 2010

Re: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to S.I.C.U.P.

res. sir ,

if ur name is janadhikar bharat or its an institution ?

It is not too much on Aishwarya. what she has done is really a
heculian task. if u want to ask the thousands of people living nearby
the garbage house ( now library ) , go there n assk n u shall know
what she has done . go there between 5pm to 9 pm n see tens of people
reading books n periodicals of the library.

cms is no ordinary school n mr. jagdish gandhi is no ordinary man .
ask him of the contribution of aishwarya n u shall come to know what
she has done.

. you sould not pay heed to this issue of Aishwarya's RTI episode ,
and that's entirely your outlook n i respect ur point of view.

if u have so much hatred n jealosy against children , do ask
moderators n if u r the moderator , pls. get my mail id banned. but
then how come u say yourself to be a social worker when u cannot
accomodate success of the children i.e. future india.

encouraged by aishwarya many children are going for rti . so if this
will cause some harm to the nation ?

I cannot count on fingre like how many intelligent commented on Shri
KG Balakrishanan' s judgment on "pre marital living - Live in
relationship quoting Lord Krishna? because i am not so witty .
perhaps u r more witty than HE balakrishnan ji then who is stopping u
, just go ahead and comment these forums are there for such
discussions and moderators ate there to judge the contents.

so far as aishwarya's issue is concerned , it shall bring a paradigm
shift in the arena of RTI.

best regards

Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

--- On Tue, 27/4/10, Janadhikar, Bharat <janadhikar@rediffmail.com> wrote:


From: Janadhikar, Bharat <janadhikar@rediffmail.com>
Subject: Re: [humanrightsactivist] Re: eight year old aishwarya sharma
- the youngest person to file a Right to Information (RTI) application
moves second appeal to S.I.C.U.P.
To: humanrightsactivist@yahoogroups.com
Cc: vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in, aishwarayaj2010@gmail.com,
veeresh_bellur@yahoo.com, nesw@yahoo.com, kldsrddy@yahoo.co.in
Date: Tuesday, 27 April, 2010, 8:46 AM

It is too much on Aishwarya. We sould not pay heed to this issue of
Aishwarya's RTI episode.

KIndly count on fingre how many intelligent commented on Shri KG
Balakrishanan' s judgment on "pre marital living - Live in
relationship quoting Lord Krishna? Please show your wit if really
witty.

On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:11:46 +0530 wrote
>


res. sir ,

i sent the mail to you only because i found a mail on some groups
having ur views on aishwarya .

as far as act is concerned , itis there to help fecilitate even the
illiterate ones to get the info what to say of a class III student who
can write his/her application on her own. also don't forget motto
behind RTE.

sec 3 of act states " subject to the provisions of this act , all
citizens shall have the right to information "

sir , so i want to know if aishwarya is a citizen of INDIA or not ? if
there is any age bar to become citizen of INDIA.

section 6 of rti act further says "
6. Request for obtaining information. -(1) A person, who desires to
obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing
or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official
language of the area in which the application is being made,
accompanying such fee as may be prescribed, to-
(a) the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information
Officer, as the case may be, of the concerned public authority;
(b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public
>Information Officer, as the case may be,
specifying the particulars of the information sought by him or her:
>Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.
(2) An applicant making request for information shall not be required
to give any reason for requesting the information or any other
personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting
him."

as persec 6 (1) , i want to know if aishwarya is a person or not ? if
even an illiterate person cannot file rti in his own name by telling
it orally to the PIO who shall write it in his name where he shall put
his thumb impression?

as per sec 6 (2) , i want to know if there is any age bar to go for rti ?

as per the act if a minor is a citizen and a person or not ?

if Yes why can't he make an RTI Application on her/his own ?

Where Does the need arisefor a directly actingGuardian ?

sir , i do agree that if there are some legal tecnicalities , those
should be taken care of keeping in mind Implications ( if any ) of
Such an Acceptance on RTI . then again don't u think these are we who
are killing the spirit of rti.


i do agreea Healthy Discussion on This Would Be a Greater Contribution
to Students and Practioners of this Law . I am also not advocate Nor
Read Law , But know rti act and want to live it in my acts n deeds.

i request all rti experts to enlighten us all.

best regards

>Urvashi Sharma
>Social Worker
>contact - 9369613513
>@i$#w@ry@!
>rti helpline-8081898081
>rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com
>
>--- On Sun, 25/4/10, Vikram Simha wrote:
>

>From: Vikram Simha
>Subject: Re: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to S.I.C.U.P.
>To: "urvashi sharma"
>Cc: aishwarayaj2010@ gmail.com, "veeresh Bellur" , nesw@yahoo.com, kldsrddy@yahoo. co.in
>Date: Sunday, 25 April, 2010, 3:04 PM
>
>


Dear Madam,
I am Not aware or put into knowledge of The reasons Behind Marking
this Mail to me . But My have an Lingering Doubt in mind . Can an
minor make an RTI Application on her/his own , Does she/He not have
aGuardian and if so why is Acting directly . The Larger Implications
of Such an Acceptance on RTI has Wider ramifications .
A Healthy Discussion on This Would Be a Greater Contribution to
Students and Practioners of this Law . I am not advocate Nor Read Law
, But have been put into Certain informations which Substantiate that
a Minor Cannot do any such thing except through hisGuardian who may
even be his Natural/Biological or Other wise

>
others in the Loop Can Please Contribute as I Known are
allKnowledgeable and will enlighten us
>
>N vikramsimha ,Trustee RTI Study Center KRIA Katte , #12 Sumeru Sir M N Krishna Rao Road , Basvangudi Bangalore 560004.
>
>--- On Sun, 25/4/10, urvashi sharma wrote:
>

>From: urvashi sharma
>Subject: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to S.I.C.U.P.
>To: aishwaryaj2010@ gmail.com
>Cc: neswrti@gmail. com, "veeresh bellur" , nesw@yahoo.com, "vikramsimha54"
>Date: Sunday, 25 April, 2010, 1:55 PM
>
>

respected all
>
>though aishwarya's rti has fetched results to the tune of directions
>of lucknow municipil corporation to shift the dumpyard and
>co-operation of city montessori school lucknow to provide all
>facilities for setting up a good public library.The library is
>functional and anyone can avail the facilities . please go thru the
>given news link that appeared in hindustan times issue dated 12 april
>2010.
>
>http://file1.hpage.com/002161/ 04/bilder/aish_ turns_garbage- house_to_library_ ht_12_ april2010.jpg
>
>but since her rti queries are still unanswered , she has moved second
>appeal to SICUP to get what he demanded from cm of the state - NO
>GARBAGE HOUSES NEAR SCHOOLS IN UTTAR PRADESH . this is available at
>given link
>
>http://file1.hpage.com/002161/ 04/bilder/aish_ gh_second_ appeal.jpg
>
>aishwarya is available at mobile no. 9369613513 to answer all rti
>queries raised by anyone who wish to have a glimpse of future india.
>
>all are welcome to ring 9369613513 and encourage her for her
>responsible , bright and cheerful future .

even now aishwarya leaves no chance to tell everyone , she meets how
potent a tool called RTI is there to help them out of their woes.
>
>best regards
>
>
>Urvashi Sharma
>Social Worker
>contact - 9369613513
>@i$#w@ry@!
>rti helpline-8081898081
>rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com
>
>


--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Monday 26 April, 2010

Fwd: Brutal attack on RTI Activist; Culprit arrested

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "N.A.Shah Ansari" <ansari.youngindia@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:41:26 +0530
Subject: <righttoinformationinindia> Brutal attack on RTI Activist;
Culprit arrested
To: India RTI <indiarti@yahoogroups.com>

*Brutal attack on RTI Activist; Culprit arrested*

Today renowned RTI activist of the state Soochanashree Rabindra Nath Nayak
is injured in brutal attack by a PDS dealer. Konark Police has lodged a case
36/2010 ,341,323,294,506 IPC & arrested the culprit.

Rabindra Nath Nayak is an active RTI activist,has used RTI for several
public causes. His activism is also found effective in different public
authorities. 2 PIOs are penalized Rs 25000/- each by OIC in his complaint.
One PDS dealer was threatening him since last some weeks as Mr Nayak had
used RTI to know the info regarding PDS of his village. Today morning the
PDS dealer Gyanendra Mohanty attacked Mr Nayak, is severely injured & now
under treatment. Konark Police has arrested the culprit.


N.A.Shah Ansari
*Young India*
At/Po- Konark, Dt- Puri, Orissa,INDIA.752111
Ph- 06758.236471, Fax- 06758.236034, Cell- 09437036471
email- youngindia@hotmail.com
visit us; www.youngindia.net.in, www.radionamaskar.org

*.......information is power.*

*
*

--
rti helpline 8081898081
web helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Subscription settings:
http://groups.google.com/group/rtimahilamanchup/subscribe?hl=en-GB

--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Sunday 25 April, 2010

Re: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to S.I.C.U.P.

Sir ,
you Have rightly Thrown Open the Subject Matter For Discussion as An
student of RTI . yes , Finally Every thing Bows Down to legal facts /
laws and not Interpretation .

the only thing that is giving me pain is that first you gave your
conclusion as an expert and now u r saying u r a learning student. u r
very senior to me n i respect u very much for all that u have done for
rti in india but u shoud not have reacted to that
??????????????????????????????????????? mail in such a crude way.

good efforts should be commended and i am sure noone on earth would
have otherwise opinion about aishwarya.

u can talk to her. she is well versed with rti and shares rti thoughts
with her friends as well. to this extent her work is commendable.
transforming a modern garbage house into a public library is really no
child's play.

encouraged by aishwarya many of her friends are using the rti route to
solve their small problems n in this i am seeing a new seed of
democracy germinating.

please forgive me but your half baked reply is like nipping all this in the bud.

and please don't talk of info-commissioners in this discussions. we
are discussing all this on many other occasions. it is we who are to
tell the info-commissioners the true meaning of rti act and i think we
all do it.

Sir , u say that The Law Says Contrary that Minor Cannot Enter into a
contract . By Submitting a RTI application with prescribed Fee She is
Forcing the Other Person to Perform Certain Acts Which are part of a
Contract . i have different opinion on this point . first of all
sending rti query is not a contract but a right coferred on every
citizen.do u mean to say that our constitution gives no rights to
minors minus their guardians ?

if minors are not issued rail tickets or MST's to travel alone ?

if then who is doing this contract with whom ?

so far as LIC /Banks/Several Central government Public authorities's
Demanding Proof of (Y)our Citizen ship is concerned , its a matter of
fight for justice . I have never given any such proof and has got the
required info , though with lot of struggle and with delay

this is how i n u should perceive n follow things

best regards

Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com


--- On Sun, 25/4/10, Vikram Simha <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in> wrote:


From: Vikram Simha <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in>
Subject: Re: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to
file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to
S.I.C.U.P.
To: "urvashi sharma" <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in>
Cc: aishwarayaj2010@gmail.com, nesw@yahoo.com, "veeresh Bellur"
<veeresh_bellur@yahoo.com>, kldsrddy@yahoo.co.in
Date: Sunday, 25 April, 2010, 6:12 PM


Madam ,
I Have Thrown Open the Subject Matter For Discussion as An student of
RTI . Finally Every thing Bogs Down to legal Interpretation .
As Far As a illiterate person he Need not be an Minor ,No where in the
Act or in mail i Have Stated that a Minor Can or cannot Write his/her
Own application .The Motto of The act is Fully Know To every person
Other Than the persons on the Supply side and the Information
Commissioners , Who Are not , I repeat who are not Considering Section
3 of The act in his Total Gamut , which is Why I once again Question
the Same . I Understand The except One Information Commissioner
Section 3 is Not Being interpreted Properly , But The Law Says
Contrary that Minor Cannot Enter into a contract . By Submitting a RTI
application with prescribed Fee She is Forcing the Other Person to
Perform Certain Acts Which are part of a Contract . My Moot question
is What if that Person Takes a stand that He Not permitted To enter
into a Contract . For example LIC /Banks/Several Central government
Public authorities Are Demanding Proof of (Y)our Citizen ship , Does
Tha RTI Act State
In so much words that Such is The requirement . We Were Shrewed
Enough To Question the PIO Himself Whether He Gave Proof of His
Citizenship to Enter into Government service .


Let Discussion Points Emerge out and That is the reason such Groups are There

N vikramsimha ,Trustee RTI Study Center & KRIA Katte , #12 Sumeru Sir
M N Krishna Rao Road , Basvangudi < Bangalore 560004.

--- On Sun, 25/4/10, urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in> wrote:


From: urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in>
Subject: Re: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to
file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to
S.I.C.U.P.
To: "Vikram Simha" <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in>
Cc: aishwarayaj2010@gmail.com, "veeresh Bellur"
<veeresh_bellur@yahoo.com>, nesw@yahoo.com, kldsrddy@yahoo.co.in
Date: Sunday, 25 April, 2010, 4:03 PM

res. sir ,

i sent the mail to you only because i found a mail on some groups
having ur views on aishwarya .

as far as act is concerned , it is there to help fecilitate even the
illiterate ones to get the info what to say of a class III student who
can write his/her application on her own. also don't forget motto
behind RTE.

sec 3 of act states " subject to the provisions of this act , all
citizens shall have the right to information "

sir , so i want to know if aishwarya is a citizen of INDIA or not ? if
there is any age bar to become citizen of INDIA.

section 6 of rti act further says "
6. Request for obtaining information.-(1) A person, who desires to
obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing
or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official
language of the area in which the application is being made,
accompanying such fee as may be prescribed, to-
(a) the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information
Officer, as the case may be, of the concerned public authority;
(b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public
Information Officer, as the case may be,
specifying the particulars of the information sought by him or her:
Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the
Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information
Officer, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to
the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.
(2) An applicant making request for information shall not be required
to give any reason for requesting the information or any other
personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting
him."

as per sec 6 (1) , i want to know if aishwarya is a person or not ?
if even an illiterate person cannot file rti in his own name by
telling it orally to the PIO who shall write it in his name where he
shall put his thumb impression?

as per sec 6 (2) , i want to know if there is any age bar to go for rti ?

as per the act if a minor is a citizen and a person or not ?

if Yes why can't he make an RTI Application on her/his own ?

Where Does the need arise for a directly acting Guardian ?

sir , i do agree that if there are some legal tecnicalities , those
should be taken care of keeping in mind Implications ( if any ) of
Such an Acceptance on RTI . then again don't u think these are we who
are killing the spirit of rti.


i do agree a Healthy Discussion on This Would Be a Greater
Contribution to Students and Practioners of this Law . I am also not
advocate Nor Read Law , But know rti act and want to live it in my
acts n deeds.

i request all rti experts to enlighten us all.

best regards

Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

--- On Sun, 25/4/10, Vikram Simha <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in> wrote:


From: Vikram Simha <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in>
Subject: Re: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to
file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to
S.I.C.U.P.
To: "urvashi sharma" <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in>
Cc: aishwarayaj2010@gmail.com, "veeresh Bellur"
<veeresh_bellur@yahoo.com>, nesw@yahoo.com, kldsrddy@yahoo.co.in
Date: Sunday, 25 April, 2010, 3:04 PM


Dear Madam,
I am Not aware or put into knowledge of The reasons Behind Marking
this Mail to me . But My have an Lingering Doubt in mind . Can an
minor make an RTI Application on her/his own , Does she/He not have a
Guardian and if so why is Acting directly . The Larger Implications of
Such an Acceptance on RTI has Wider ramifications .
A Healthy Discussion on This Would Be a Greater Contribution to
Students and Practioners of this Law . I am not advocate Nor Read Law
, But have been put into Certain informations which Substantiate that
a Minor Cannot do any such thing except through his Guardian who may
even be his Natural/Biological or Other wise


others in the Loop Can Please Contribute as I Known are all
Knowledgeable and will enlighten us

N vikramsimha ,Trustee RTI Study Center & KRIA Katte , #12 Sumeru Sir
M N Krishna Rao Road , Basvangudi < Bangalore 560004.

--- On Sun, 25/4/10, urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in> wrote:


From: urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in>
Subject: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to file
a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to
S.I.C.U.P.
To: aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com
Cc: neswrti@gmail.com, "veeresh bellur" <veeresh_bellur@yahoo.com>,
nesw@yahoo.com, "vikramsimha54" <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Sunday, 25 April, 2010, 1:55 PM

respected all

though aishwarya's rti has fetched results to the tune of directions
of lucknow municipil corporation to shift the dumpyard and
co-operation of city montessori school lucknow to provide all
facilities for setting up a good public library.The library is
functional and anyone can avail the facilities . please go thru the
given news link that appeared in hindustan times issue dated 12 april
2010.

http://file1.hpage.com/002161/ 04/bilder/aish_turns_garbage-
house_to_library_ht_12_ april2010.jpg

but since her rti queries are still unanswered , she has moved second
appeal to SICUP to get what he demanded from cm of the state - NO
GARBAGE HOUSES NEAR SCHOOLS IN UTTAR PRADESH . this is available at
given link

http://file1.hpage.com/002161/ 04/bilder/aish_gh_second_ appeal.jpg

aishwarya is available at mobile no. 9369613513 to answer all rti
queries raised by anyone who wish to have a glimpse of future india.

all are welcome to ring 9369613513 and encourage her for her
responsible , bright and cheerful future .

even now aishwarya leaves no chance to tell everyone , she meets how
potent a tool called RTI is there to help them out of their woes.

best regards


Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

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--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Re : Eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to S.I.C.U.P.

From: urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:03:20 +0530 (IST)
To: Vikram Simha <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in>

res. sir ,

i sent the mail to you only because i found a mail on some groups
having ur views on aishwarya .

as far as act is concerned , it is there to help fecilitate even the
illiterate ones to get the info what to say of a class III student who
can write his/her application on her own. also don't forget motto
behind RTE.

sec 3 of act states " subject to the provisions of this act , all
citizens shall have the right to information "

sir , so i want to know if aishwarya is a citizen of INDIA or not ? if
there is any age bar to become citizen of INDIA.

section 6 of rti act further says "
6. Request for obtaining information.-(1) A person, who desires to
obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing
or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official
language of the area in which the application is being made,
accompanying such fee as may be prescribed, to-
(a) the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information
Officer, as the case may be, of the concerned public authority;
(b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public
Information Officer, as the case may be,
specifying the particulars of the information sought by him or her:
Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the
Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information
Officer, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to
the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.
(2) An applicant making request for information shall not be required
to give any reason for requesting the information or any other
personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting
him."

as per sec 6 (1) , i want to know if aishwarya is a person or not ?
if even an illiterate person cannot file rti in his own name by
telling it orally to the PIO who shall write it in his name where he
shall put his thumb impression?

as per sec 6 (2) , i want to know if there is any age bar to go for rti ?

as per the act if a minor is a citizen and a person or not ?

if Yes why can't he make an RTI Application on her/his own ?

Where Does the need arise for a directly acting Guardian ?

sir , i do agree that if there are some legal tecnicalities , those
should be taken care of keeping in mind Implications ( if any ) of
Such an Acceptance on RTI . then again don't u think these are we who
are killing the spirit of rti.


i do agree a Healthy Discussion on This Would Be a Greater
Contribution to Students and Practioners of this Law . I am also not
advocate Nor Read Law , But know rti act and want to live it in my
acts n deeds.

i request all rti experts to enlighten us all.

best regards

Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

--- On Sun, 25/4/10, Vikram Simha <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in> wrote:


From: Vikram Simha <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in>
Subject: Re: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to
file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to
S.I.C.U.P.
To: "urvashi sharma" <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in>
Cc: aishwarayaj2010@gmail.com, "veeresh Bellur"
<veeresh_bellur@yahoo.com>, nesw@yahoo.com, kldsrddy@yahoo.co.in
Date: Sunday, 25 April, 2010, 3:04 PM


Dear Madam,
I am Not aware or put into knowledge of The reasons Behind Marking
this Mail to me . But My have an Lingering Doubt in mind . Can an
minor make an RTI Application on her/his own , Does she/He not have a
Guardian and if so why is Acting directly . The Larger Implications of
Such an Acceptance on RTI has Wider ramifications .
A Healthy Discussion on This Would Be a Greater Contribution to
Students and Practioners of this Law . I am not advocate Nor Read Law
, But have been put into Certain informations which Substantiate that
a Minor Cannot do any such thing except through his Guardian who may
even be his Natural/Biological or Other wise


others in the Loop Can Please Contribute as I Known are all
Knowledgeable and will enlighten us

N vikramsimha ,Trustee RTI Study Center & KRIA Katte , #12 Sumeru Sir
M N Krishna Rao Road , Basvangudi < Bangalore 560004.

--- On Sun, 25/4/10, urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in> wrote:


From: urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@yahoo.co.in>
Subject: eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to file
a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to
S.I.C.U.P.
To: aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com
Cc: neswrti@gmail.com, "veeresh bellur" <veeresh_bellur@yahoo.com>,
nesw@yahoo.com, "vikramsimha54" <vikramsimha54@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Sunday, 25 April, 2010, 1:55 PM

respected all

though aishwarya's rti has fetched results to the tune of directions
of lucknow municipil corporation to shift the dumpyard and
co-operation of city montessori school lucknow to provide all
facilities for setting up a good public library.The library is
functional and anyone can avail the facilities . please go thru the
given news link that appeared in hindustan times issue dated 12 april
2010.

http://file1.hpage.com/002161/ 04/bilder/aish_turns_garbage-
house_to_library_ht_12_ april2010.jpg

but since her rti queries are still unanswered , she has moved second
appeal to SICUP to get what he demanded from cm of the state - NO
GARBAGE HOUSES NEAR SCHOOLS IN UTTAR PRADESH . this is available at
given link

http://file1.hpage.com/002161/ 04/bilder/aish_gh_second_ appeal.jpg

aishwarya is available at mobile no. 9369613513 to answer all rti
queries raised by anyone who wish to have a glimpse of future india.

all are welcome to ring 9369613513 and encourage her for her
responsible , bright and cheerful future .

even now aishwarya leaves no chance to tell everyone , she meets how
potent a tool called RTI is there to help them out of their woes.

best regards


Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

--
lokshahi ke liye loksatta jaruri hai.bharat ko bhrashtaar ,
saampradayikta , jaativaad aur apradhon se mukt karne ka sankalp hi
hai aakhiri vikalp.

Subscription settings:
http://groups.google.com/group/indiaminuscccc/subscribe?hl=en-GB

--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

eight year old aishwarya sharma - the youngest person to file a Right to Information (RTI) application moves second appeal to S.I.C.U.P.

respected all

though aishwarya's rti has fetched results to the tune of directions
of lucknow municipil corporation to shift the dumpyard and
co-operation of city montessori school lucknow to provide all
facilities for setting up a good public library.The library is
functional and anyone can avail the facilities . please go thru the
given news link that appeared in hindustan times issue dated 12 april
2010.

http://file1.hpage.com/002161/04/bilder/aish_turns_garbage-house_to_library_ht_12_april2010.jpg

but since her rti queries are still unanswered , she has moved second
appeal to SICUP to get what he demanded from cm of the state - NO
GARBAGE HOUSES NEAR SCHOOLS IN UTTAR PRADESH . this is available at
given link

http://file1.hpage.com/002161/04/bilder/aish_gh_second_appeal.jpg

aishwarya is available at mobile no. 9369613513 to answer all rti
queries raised by anyone.

all are welcome to ring 9369613513 and encourage her for her
responsible , bright and cheerful future .

best regards

--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Friday 23 April, 2010

sahara samay news audio of aishwarya - the youngest person to file a Right to Information (RTI) application and see it through to get results

please listen the attached file.

regards

--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Wednesday 21 April, 2010

Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission is almost defunct for want of space in a state which has ample space for parks and memorials

Res all ,

Please go through CHAPTER VI ( Miscellaneous ) of RTI act 2005 .
Section 26 of this act at given link -

http://aishwaryaj.hpage.com/chapter_vi__miscellaneous__of__rti_act_2005__section_26__81046228.html

This says that The appropriate Government may, to the extent of
availability of financial and other resources,— develop and organise
educational programmes to advance the understanding of the public, in
particular of disadvantaged communities as to how to exercise the
rights contemplated under this Act; encourage public authorities to
participate in the development and organisation of programmes referred
to in clause (a) and to undertake such programmes themselves; promote
timely and effective dissemination of accurate information by public
authorities about their activities; and train Central Public
Information Officers or State Public Information Officers, as the case
may be, of public authorities and produce relevant training materials
for use by the public authorities themselves.

Uttar Pradesh Government's cold attitude towards RTI act's effective
implementation is known to all so civil societies decided to take the
onus of spreading awareness about RTI act once again . In past many
similar efforts were made by us and Uttar Pradesh became the first
state in India to attract action under section 17 of RTI act against
erring SCIC Sri M. A. Khan . Our letter to obtain permission to
organize a two week R.T.I. – CAMP in U.P.S.I.C. premises from 10th May
2010 is available at given link –

http://aishwaryaj.hpage.com/permission_to_organize_a_two_week_rti_–_camp_in_upsic_premises_from_10th_may_2010___60618181.html


We sent mails to ,
1-Sri R. S. Pankaj , The Chief Information Commissioner , Uttar
Pradesh State Information Commission , Indira Bhawan , Lucknow
, scic.up@up.nic.in
2- Sri Yogendra Singh , The Secretary -Uttar Pradesh State Information
Commission ,Indira Bhawan , Lucknow sec.sic@up.nic.in
With copies to –
1- Sri B. L. Joshi , The Governor of Uttar Pradesh , Lucknow
<hgovup@up.nic.in>,
2- Km. Mayawati , The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh , Lucknow
"cmup" <cmup@nic.in>,
3- The Principal Secretary , Administrative reforms department ,
U. P.Government , Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh "psecup.adminref"
<psecup.adminref@up.nic.in>,

To our utter surprise , nobody except the H.E. governor's Secretariat
responded . They forwarded the letter to the Administrative Reforms
Department ( the nodal department for RTI ) for necessary action. The
letter is available at given link -

http://file1.hpage.com/000223/57/bilder/guv_letter_to_ard_for_camp.bmp

Today I received a letter no. 389/43-2-10-4 ra.su.aa.(4)/2010 Lucknow
dated 12 April 2010 from the Administrative Reforms Department. The
letter is available at given link –

http://file1.hpage.com/000223/57/bilder/ard_letter_denying_for_camp_at_upsic.jpg

A bare perusal of this letter would reveal Uttar Pradesh Government's
intentions to defer compliance of section 26 of right to
information act from 2006 to 2010 .

In a province where there is ample space and money for many parks and
memorials , there is no space for information commission's smooth
functioning .

Thus the Uttar Pradesh info-commission which should open the doors to
participatory democracy for all , is becoming defunct because of
paucity of space.

So far as our camp is concerned , we shall meet H.E. governor for some
alternate venue nearest to UPSIC to meet the objectives of this camp.

Regards

--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Tuesday 20 April, 2010

A little big girl , A Lucknow schoolgirl invokes RTI to rid the street outside her school of a garbage dump, reports Puja Awasthi

http://www.thesundayindian.com/25042010/storyd.asp?sid=8809&pageno=1

http://www.thesundayindian.com/singleview.asp?sid=8809


Special Feature

A little big girl
A Lucknow schoolgirl invokes RTI to rid the street outside her school
of a garbage dump, reports Puja Awasthi


Aishwarya Sharma, who turned nine this month, created history of sorts
by becoming the youngest person to file a Right to Information (RTI)
application and see it through to get results. Sharma's application,
filed on November 30, 2009, wanted to know why an overflowing garbage
disposal site, where pigs and dogs roamed freely, should exist right
across her school and be a possible source of infection to her and the
other children.

Sharma's mother Urvashi has been an RTI activist for long and has
recently set up an RTI helpline, yet it was only recently that
Aishwarya began to pay attention to what her mother was doing. "The
swine flu scare was all over. But no one, not even parents, was
willing to pay any attention to that possible source of infection that
stood right across our school," says the girl who has just been
promoted to Class Four.

Coached well by her mother, Aishwarya prattles that the RTI is what
"allows you to rectify anything that is wrong. It is a tool to weed
out corruption," faltering when asked what precisely does Section 6 of
the Act that she so often quotes say.

The RTI route was not the first that Aishwarya took. She initially
wrote to chief minister Mayawati's office in October 2009 asking for
the garbage dump to be removed. When no answers came, she took the RTI
way, dipping into her own piggy bank to pay the Rs 10 that is to be
attached to every RTI query. In her baby handwriting, guided by her
mother, she had three pointed queries for the chief minister's Public
Information Officer: one, was there any rule which permitted the
building of a garbage disposal site near a school; two, if the garbage
were to become a source of infection for the children in her school,
who would be held responsible; and lastly that she be given a
photocopy of the file into which the first letter she had sent to the
CM had gone.

In February this year, she received a response from the city's civic
authorities (Lucknow Nagar Nigam), informing her that the city's
Health Officer and the Mayor had directed that the site should no
longer be used for disposal of garbage and that a fresh site be built
elsewhere. "But they did not answer any of my questions," she points
out. In less than a month, the girl was at it again: writing a fresh
application to the Appeals Officer at the Nagar Nigam asking why her
queries had not been responded to precisely and why had she not
received copies of the orders of the two authorities mentioned in the
reply.

"But I went there yesterday. There is no garbage. Instead there is a
public library with books, newspapers and magazines," she says, voice
soaked in excitement. Ever since Aishwarya's story became public, the
stream of photographers and media persons to her home and school in
the city's suburban Rajajipuram area have not stopped.

"My friends would not believe me at first. Even now there is this boy
who says I get my relatives to take my pictures and the press cuttings
I show around are actually my father's doing on a computer. Some
friends now ask me to suggest topics on which they too can file RTIs,"
she laughs. But some children in her immediate circle have seen how
potent a tool RTI can be and that if somebody like Aishwarya could use
it and become famous for it, why cannot they do it too?

One among them is Priyanshi Yadav, a 13-year-old whose family is
friends with the Sharmas. Priyanshi, who is still mulling whether she
would like to be a model, an engineer or delve into multimedia as a
grown-up, has dashed off a letter to the city's Municipal Commissioner
asking for the 20 by 120 feet lane in front of her home to be turned
into a concrete road as soon as possible. "I got courage from
Aishwarya's feat but have experienced myself the difficulties of
walking on the uneven surface. So many children have skinned their
knees or fallen off their bicycles in this lane. If we have a RCC
road, even my home will look pretty", she says.

Priyanshi's letter, written on a page torn out of an exercise book, is
dated April 5 and does not forget to mention that a BSP legislator
lives along the lane as well.

Also counted among UP's growing list of children who are wielding the
RTI tool is Tanya Thakur (15) daughter of Amitabh Thakur an IPS
officer who first used the RTI in 2007 to get his Annual Confidential
Reports that were being denied to him and Nutan Thakur who is an RTI
activist and the editor of a newsletter. Tanya's application though is
a little different and flows out of a national forum that was convened
at a recent RTI seminar in Lucknow. "The forum", explains Nutan,
"allows people anonymity while asking for information as it offers an
individual the option of not seeking potentially sensitive information
in his own name. That information might be asked for by a forum member
living in a different state. This is especially useful for villages
where asking questions invariably leads to physical confrontations."

Thus Tanya's application has been made to the Maharashtra telecom
office asking for information on the payments that ahve been released
to various civil contractors against dead agreements by an executive
engineer in Solapur. Her 12-year-old brother, Aditya, penned a poem,
for the RTI seminar, that had the following to say of the government:
"the solid machine has turned to glass, now that we have the power."

As for Aishwarya, there is already another RTI idea that is swimming
in her head. "I want to know why the sale of cut fruits and fruit
juices in the open does not end. It is a potential health hazard," she
says. Why an obsession with health-related queries you might wonder.
Well that is explained by the fact that Aishwarya's ambition is to
become a doctor when she grows up.


The Sunday Indian ( India's Greatest News Magazine)


--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Re: [HumJanenge] Query on filing RTI against Railway Department !! (Need advice from you all)

dear hari ,

you have raised a very relevant and important cause that affects all
of us one day or other.

its nice that you have shown your concern for this cause. we answer
such queries at our helps phone 8081898081 and
aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com.

in my opinion u raise a rti with the pio of the ministry of railways
for a certified copy of rules / policy of the railways to run the
passenger , express , superfast n elite trains

ask them for the copies of all documents used to ensure timely
running of trains.

ask them for a certified copies of documents to ascertain / fix
responsibility of late running of train

ask for certified copy of punishment rules under which railway
officials/employees responsible for late running of trains can be
punished.

also ask the names of railways officials punished and nature of
punishment for late running of trains right from inception to date.

there may be some other points also.

if u desire , i can file an rti in this matter. however i wish if
subhashji raise this issue .
i am sending this mail to him also

regards

urvashi

On 4/16/10, hari sharma <hari_iitr@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am Hari Shanker Sharma and quite new to this forum. I just need a advice
> from you people on following topic to file RTI against Railway Department.
>
> Once i was traveling from Bangalore to Delhi via Sampark Kranti express (its
> so called super fast express) and it has run late reached Delhi after 2:5
> hrs from its expected arrival. Becuase of this delay I lost my other
> connecting train and had been in big trouble. Somehow i had managed to get
> my home town which is 9 hrs journey from Delhi.
>
> I want to file RTI to know the reasons as to why train has got delayed.
> Though during my journey i didn't find anything unexpected which could delay
> the train.
>
> I am sure most of us who travel via train face this problem on day to day
> basis so am having a feeling that somewhere down the line Railway department
> should take the responsibility of this mess and start working towards
> improving its service. They can't have excuse every time saying "Sorry and
> inconvenience regretted".
>
> If something unusual happens during journey and train gets delayed that we
> all can understand.
>
> I want to take advice about if i can file RTI to know why train got delayed
> which has caused lot of damage to me personally as well.
>
>
> Thanks and Regards
>
>
> Hari Shanker Sharma
> Phone : +91 9986 260 458
>


--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Saturday 17 April, 2010

नन्हें हाथ में आरटीआई एक्ट की तलवार

http://samaylive.com/regional-hindi/up-hindi/78201.html

नन्हें हाथ में आरटीआई एक्ट की तलवार

17/04/2010 03:49:00

लखनऊ(सहारा समय)। आरटीआई एक्ट को अपने आस पास हो रहे गलत कामों को रोकनो
और भ्रष्टाचार के खुलासे का हथियार माना जाता है।

आपको जानकर ये हैरानी भी होगी कि ये इतना आसान है कि इसे बच्चे भी कर रहे
हैं। जी हां लखनऊ में आठ साल की ऐश्वर्या ने इस अधिकार का प्रयोग कर सबको
अचंभे में डाल दिया। हुआ यूं कि ऐश्वर्या ने नगर पालिका से आरटीआई एक्ट
के तहत पूंछ लिया कि क्या स्कूल के बाहर कूड़ेदान हो सकता है? एश्वर्या
के सवाल के जवाब में नगर पालिका ने यहां कूड़ेदान की जगह सार्वजनिक
पुस्तकालय बना दिया। अपनी पहली कोशिश को सफल होता देख ऐश्वर्या फूली
नहीं समा रही और अब वो दूसरे बच्चों को भी इसके इस्तेमाल की सीख दे रही
हैं। बेटी का सफलता पर मां-बाप भी खुश हैं और ऐश्वर्या के स्कूल को भी
उसपर गर्व है। गौरतलब है कि आठ वर्षीय ऐश्वर्या नगर पालिका से प्रश्न
पूंछने के बाद आरटीआई ऐक्ट का इस्तेमाल करने वाली पहली बच्ची बन गई हैं।

aishwarya at garbage house turned into library by rti power
http://file1.hpage.com/002161/04/bilder/aishwarya_617837462.jpg


--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Right to Information

Appeal to PM by Indian citizens' abroad

(Within 96 hrs, 140 Indian Citizens' from abroad sign "Appeal to PM')

Within last 96 hrs over 140 Indian Citizens' living abroad in
Australia, Burundi, Canada, Ethiopia, Japan, Singapore, Sweden,
Switzerland, South Africa, U.A.E, U.K. and mostly from USA have signed
the Appeal to PM.

Number is increasing every day.

Note

To Read Appeal letter to PM, Please click on link below:

http://aidindia. org/main/ component/ option,com_ facileforms/ Itemid,455/

To see List of Signatories, please click on link below.

http://aidindia. org/main/ index.php? option=com_ wrapper&Itemid=456

Issue

The Right to Information Act, 2005 bestows an important 'Right' to
Indian Citizens' living in India and abroad (holding Indian passport),
to participate in nation building.

However, in the absence of procedure/rules for payment of RTI fees in
foreign currency from abroad; Indian Citizens' livings away from
country are unable to participate in nation building using their right
to information.

For the last few years many RTI Activist living abroad have been
raising this issue with concerned Ministries of the Government of
India and CIC but issue has not been resolved.

This issue applies to all Indian Citizens' abroad that includes
citizens' who may be residing abroad for a short visits, long stay for
education and job purposes, and even officials posted in Indian
Missions or on deputation to International bodies and so on.

Now, in this context an 'Appeal Letter' to Hon'ble Prime Minister is
being sent by Indian Citizens' living abroad thru our Ambassador in
USA . This Global Campaign was launched in USA by Activists, 72 hrs
ago.

It is learnt that next week the Appeal Letter will be formally handed
over by RTI Activists in USA , to our Ambassador in Washington .


--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

When "RTI-wali ladki" moved Mayawati news link

http://www.governancenow.com/gov-next/rti/when-rti-wali-ladki-moved-mayawati

--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

When "RTI-wali ladki" moved Mayawati

When "RTI-wali ladki" moved Mayawati

RTI application filed by the eight year old forced authorities to remove the garbade dump-yard opposite her school
Danish Raza | April 16 2010
minirtiactivist.hpage.com
Aishwarya Sharma

Author Profile

danish's picture
Danish Raza is a Principal Correspondent with Governance Now.

Eight-year-old Aishwarya has never met Mayawati. She does not feel the need to. She just shoots a letter to bahenji and gets her work done -- something most top political leaders will not be able to.

Like she did last year when she wanted the garbage dump right opposite her school removed.

Aishwarya is a class 4 student of the Montessari school in Lucknow's Rajajipuram area. Last year during the swine flu scare, the school authorities asked students to wear masks to prevent infection. There was a garbage dump opposite the school gate- home to pigs and dogs. Aishwarya realised it was a threat to the health of all schoolchildren and the staff.

She wrote a letter to the Chief Minister's Office asking them to shift the garbage dump to some other location.

However, nothing moved. Exasperated, she asked her mother how to follow it up. "We keep on filing applications under Right to Information Act. Aishwarya asked us if RTI can help in this case," said Aishwarya's mother Urvashi, a social worker.

In December last year, the girl, now known as 'RTI waali ladki' in her school, wrote an RTI application in long hand on a paper taken out of in her Hindi notebook. In the application filed with the Chief Minister's Office, she asked the status of the letter she had sent more than a month back; the rules of constructing a garbage dump-yard and who would own the responsibility if the filth lead to health issues.

The application was transferred to the Lucknow municipal corporation. Though Aishwayra is yet to get a reply to her RTI query, the authorities ordered that garbage would not be dumped on the site anymore.

And in its place, a public library, with more than 100 books, fans, tables and chairs, came up last week.

The girl, however, is not satisfied.

"I still want to know the rules of for setting up a dump yard. I want everything in writing. Otherwise some day they might remove the library and the garbage will reappear," Aishwayra told governance now over phone.



--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail  aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com









Friday 16 April, 2010

Re: DoPT CIRCULAR ON RTI ACT

yes subhash ji

this is a serious issue. why only ngo's ? with prior apologies to all
, i want to quote that most of the ngos are money making mechanisms
and are more deeply involved in corruption than some of the public
servants.

first pay set percentage n then get grant is an open government policy
n we all know this very well.

all rti users should come forward and raise their voice against this
non-democratic conspiracy of the government .

regards

urvashi

On 4/15/10, SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL <subhashchandraagrawal@gmail.com> wrote:
> DoPT CIRCULAR ON RTI ACT
>
>
>
> Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) had put a 'Questionnaire to
> facilitate strategy formulation on RTI under the Performance Management and
> Evaluation System for DoPT' on its website through RTI circular number
> 1/2/2010-IR dated 01.04.2010 which invited feedback and suggestions towards
> RTI Act from 'stake-holders' including civil-society groups (NGOs),
> Information Commissioners and Public-Authorities with last date to submit
> completed questionnaires as 15.04.2010. Questionnaire along-with the
> circular was removed from DoPT website on 15.04.2010 after expiry of
> deadline to submit completed questionnaire.
>
>
>
> Are normal citizens and other organisations not on DoPT invitation-list are
> not stake-holders on RTI Act when no mass publicity programme was launched
> by DoPT to invite suggestions towards RTI Act? DoPT has simply fulfilled
> formality of inviting public-comments on the important issue by not making
> normal citizens aware of the questionnaire. Is it a strategy-planning of
> DoPT to fulfil formality of consulting 'all stake-holders' before amending
> RTI Act as promised by Prime Minister to UPA Chairperson. Evidently only
> public-authorities will only be sending completed questionnaire in absence
> of public-comments because of DoPT not making public aware about the
> questionnaire.
>
>
>
> SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL
>
> (Guinness Record Holder & RTI Activist)
>
> 1775 Kucha Lattushah
>
> Dariba, Chandni Chowk
>
> DELHI 110006 (India)
>
> Mobile 9810033711 Fax 23254036
>
> E-mail subhashmadhu@sify.com
>
> Web www.subhashmadhu.com
>


--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Wednesday 14 April, 2010

A MIRACLE IN UTTAR PRADESH ( RTI EFFECT ) - schoolgirl pluck : Dumpyard turns Library

its official now . the rti power used by 8 year old baby aishwarya has
turned the garbage house into public library. now hundreds of people
are getting benefited and the thousands of children are relieved of
any health hazard.

this success story is like an oasis in the desert.

the story featured in hindustantimes lucknow edition on 12-04-2010 on
front page.
to read the rti success story please click the link below

http://file1.hpage.com/002161/04/bilder/aish_turns_garbage-house_to_library_ht_12_april2010.jpg

regards

--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Sunday 11 April, 2010

RTI AWARENESS CAMP/SEMINAR/WORKSHOP IN LUCKNOW UTTAR PRADESH

RTI AWARENESS CAMP/SEMINAR/WORKSHOP IN LUCKNOW UTTAR PRADESH

Res all ,

The RTI CAMP/SEMINAR/WORKSHOP started with the blessings of H.
Justice ( Retd. ) Sri Kamleshwar Nath , Noted Social Activist Dr.
Sandeep Pandey , Noted RTI expert & author of dozens of worldclass
books Dr. Niraj Kumar , Noted RTI exponent Prof.. D. D. sharma and
others.

The mobile RTI helpline 8081898081 and email help
aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com got rolled by little Aishwarya and other
children & people from the nearby slums , who were there to attend the
camp in the presence of numerous rti-users , social workers and media
persons.

Kamlesh verma from Lucknow is unemployed and is being victimized by
the police. Ram Bahadur of Gomti nagar Lucknow is handicapped but does
not know how he can avail the benefit of schemes meant for him.
Rajkumari is a widow but is unable to get the pension due to red
tapism and prevailing corruption. ramdas of unnao who is unable to get
a ration card despite his best efforts .so is dule pasi of hardoi who
is not able to get the oldage pension despite moving from pillar to
post and so on ……………….

There is plethora of problems .

All were trained as to how rti should be useful to them . RTI material
in hindi alongwith photocopies of the two papers of H. Justice ( Retd.
) Sri Kamleshwar Nath was distributed to all the participants . The
link to these papers is being given here so that more n more people
get benefit from them.

http://aishwaryaj.hpage.com/get__informed_-_by_hjustice_retd_kamleshwar_nath_14509179.html

http://aishwaryaj.hpage.com/hurdles_in_rti_-_by_h_justice_retd_kamleshwar_nath_26571733.html

Later Aishwarya told the children to raise the issues that affect them
directly. She told them how to go for it.

As of now deepshikha verma , mukesh kumar and ramgopal singh , all
from Rajajipuram Lucknow are being trained as master trainers to use n
spread the rti.

Tomorrow ( 10 am - 2 pm ) is the concluding day so all are invited to
attend the camp.

Regards

urvashi


--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Helpline to clear RTI doubts, courtesy activists

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Helpline-to-clear-RTI-doubts-courtesy-activists/articleshow/5780591.cms

Helpline to clear RTI doubts, courtesy activists
Neha Shukla, TNN, Apr 10, 2010, 05.41am IST

LUCKNOW: Here comes help for those willing to tread the RTI line, but
do not know how to go about it. The full-fledged RTI helpline and
helpmail which gets rolling from Saturday is more than a promise to
increase awareness on the Act.

People can call up at 8081898081 and seek answers to their queries on
RTI. It could be anything from filing the application to finding
answers to the doubts about the use of the Act and many more similar
things regarding the right to information (RTI) Act. There is still
very little awareness on the Act though it has been there for the past
four years in Uttar Pradesh. Many may not know that if not addressed
to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the department, RTI
application will not fetch any response. Which is why the group of RTI
activists active in the city have come together to give shape to the
phone and e-mail helpline.

"We want to help people to use the Act in the right manner", said
Urvashi Sharma, an RTI activist. The helpline will not be a toll-free
number as of now. It will be functional between 8 am to 10 pm.
Besides, it will only answer to the queries made in either Hindi or
English.

People can also mail at (aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com) to get their doubts
cleared on the Act. The activists will personally answer the queries
on a day-to-day basis.

Creating awareness on the RTI Act has always been a prime concern and
focus. The UP State Information Commission has also taken up several
initiatives to simplify the Act for people. The concise version of the
Act, a booklet popularly called 'gutka', has been introduced by the
commission to explain the nitty-gritties of the Act. It explains how
simple it is to file an RTI application.

The booklet has been published in Hindi. More so because the entire
Act is available in English and its translation in Hindi is more than
needed for UP where maximum applicants are Hindi-speaking folks.

Anyone can obtain the booklet from the office of the PIO of the
commission or that of any of the Information Commissioners (ICs). The
booklet is available free of cost.

The commission had published quite a few of such booklets in the past
like 'prashnotri' which explained the procedures of disposal of an
application etc.


--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Saturday 10 April, 2010

Four year old RTI Power used by Eight Year old baby Aishwarya makes us remind – NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE - Pre RTI Garbage house near her school is now a Public Library

Four year old RTI Power used by Eight Year old baby Aishwarya makes
us remind – NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE - Pre RTI Garbage house near her
school is now a Public Library

Remember Aishwarya , a Eight year old Student of Class III of City
Montessori School Rajajipuram Branch , Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh who
used RTI tool for removal of the garbage house from the vicinity of
her school and got some success as the garbage dumping was stopped.

Aishwarya's letter to C. M. is available at given link -

http://file1.hpage.com/000223/57/bilder/aish_letter_to_cm.jpg


Aishwarya's RTI letter is available at given link -

http://file1.hpage.com/000223/57/bilder/aish_rti_gh_sec6.jpg

The Reply sent by PIO of the Chief Minister is available at given link -

http://file1.hpage.com/000223/57/bilder/aish_rti_gh_cmo_reply.jpg

The RTI reply by the Zonal health officer is available at given link -

http://file1.hpage.com/000223/57/bilder/aish_rti_gh_reply1.jpg

Now as Aishwarya has moved to the next class so has her RTI success .
Aishwarya filed First Appeal under section 19(1) of the RTI act on 08
March 2010 the link to which is given below-

http://file1.hpage.com/002161/04/bilder/gh_first_appeal.bmp

Though Aishwarya has not received any reply on her appeal , the
glowing Signboard of " PUBLIC LIBRARY " specifying its time of
opening and closing on the walls of once the Garbage House glorifies
one more RTI – SUCCESS – STORY that too by an eight year old
Aishwarya who redefines the meaning of DEMOCRACY in INDIA.


--
Urvashi Sharma
Social Worker
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081
rti helpmail aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com

Thursday 8 April, 2010

Launch of cellphone and e-mail based right to information help

http://www.mynews.in/News/_launch_of_cellphone_and_e-mail_based_right_to_information_help_N44563.html

Launch of cellphone and e-mail based right to information help

Keywords: RTI ,
Posted On: 07-Apr-2010 08:12:52 By: Ch. Narendra

Social Activist Urvashi Sharma is organizing a three days { 10 , 11 &
12 april 2010 , 10 am – 5 pm } RTI discussion , workshop and
awareness camp at my residence F –2376 , Rajajipuram, Lucknow , Uttar
Pradesh.

She said that all the participants shall begiven training and free
literature on RTI . All are welcome to attend the camp to strengthen
the RTI movement in india we expect that each participant shall pledge
to train atleast one person beyond our camp to make our movement a
success.

In this camp we intend to train the person standing at the tailend of
the society so that he should know that it is his right to get that
bare minimum that is meant for him but is going to the coffers of the
corrupt.

The camp shall be headed by the leading RTI exponents of the
country.please see the given link
http://file1. hpage.com/ 000223/ 57/bilder/np_ 5april10. jpg

on 10-04-2010 , we shall launch all india rti phone helpline
8081898081 { (Hindi and English only ) ( 8 am - 10 pm daily )} and
e-mail based personalised RTI helpmail aishwaryaj2010@ gmail.com .

The panel of experts shall personally answer the queries on day to day
basis . its our small step towards spreading the giant and great cause
called RTI.


--
Urvashi Sharma
F-2376 , Rajajipuram , Lucknow
pin - 226017 , Uttar Pradesh INDIA
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081 ,

Wednesday 7 April, 2010

u. p. info-commissioners are not complying the section 18 of the RTI Act 2005 - action required

By E-mail

To ,
1- Sri B. L. Joshi , The Governor of Uttar Pradesh , Lucknow
<hgovup@up.nic.in>,
2- Km. Mayawati , The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh , Lucknow "cmup"
<cmup@nic.in>,
3- The Principal Secretary , Administrative reforms department , U. P.
Government , Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh "psecup.adminref"
<psecup.adminref@up.nic.in>,

with copies to –
1-Sri R. S. Pankaj , The Chief Information Commissioner , Uttar
Pradesh State Information Commission , Indira Bhawan , Lucknow
, scic.up@up.nic.in
2- Sri Yogendra Singh , The Secretary -Uttar Pradesh State Information
Commission ,Indira Bhawan , Lucknow sec.sic@up.nic.in

Res. All

U all shall agree that it gives more pain when u strangle someone than
to kill him at once. RTI act is being strangled by the information
commissioners of uttar Pradesh so its better that they should kill
this act in one go and let its soul rest in peace so that the
info-seekers should not live on false hopes that one day they shall
get the information / justice from SIC uttar Pradesh.

First it was the issue of incompetent / corrupt persons appointed as
the info-commissioners and if this was not enough , these
info-commissioners are now openly defying the provisions of the act
and inventing newer ways of delaying the information to the
info-seekers.

Information delayed ( beyond time stipulated in the act ) is
information denied. So , by adopting delay-tactics , these
info-commissioners are directly helping in denial of information to
the info-seekers. These info-commissioners are the traitors of RTI
though they should be guardians of RTI . Such traitors should be dealt
with and punished according to law.

Section 18 of RTI act says "Powers and functions of Information
Commissions.-(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be
the duty of the Central Information Commission or State Information
Commission, as the case may be, to receive and inquire into a
complaint from any person,-
c) who has not been given a response to a request for information or
access to information within the time limit specified under this Act;"

This section has words like shall , duty , receive and inquire into a
complaint , has not been given response , within the time limits. The
stated and implied meaning of all these words are clear to anyone with
a general IQ but for the best reasons known to them only , our
info-commissioners don't ( want to ) understand these words and take
action in letter n spirit of the act.

Please go thru the given link

http://file1.hpage.com/000223/57/bilder/sicupsec18dumped.jpg


A perusal of the letter of UPSIC makes It clear that a complaint made
under section 18 (3) was converted into first appeal of section 19(1)
and sent to the AA of the concerned department. This way the
info-commissioner not only let the PIO go Scot free but threw the ball
into the info-seeker's court first to wait for 30 more days for reply
of AA and then again make second appeal to the UPSIC . Since the
information is sent by ordinary post so in sensitive RTIS' , the
info-seeker never gets this letter and waits for action on his
complaint that was disposed-off as converted to appeal of section
19(1) . The AA never takes any action and all further inquiries of the
info-seekers are lost in the wilderness. This nexus of info-seekers
and PIO/AA is strangling the rti act in U. P.

Hence , I request you all to intervene to punish the erring
info-commissioners for not complying the section 18 of the RTI Act
2005 and also for unnecessary delaying the information.

best regards

date 07-04-09

yours truly

Urvashi Sharma
social worker
F-2376 , Rajajipuram , Lucknow
pin - 226017 , Uttar Pradesh INDIA
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!
rti helpline-8081898081

launch of cellphone and e-mail based right to information help

res. all
we are organizing a three days { 10 , 11 & 12 april 2010 , 10 am – 5
pm } rti discussion , workshop and awarenesscamp at my residence F –
2376 , Rajajipuram lucknow , uttar pradesh. all participants shall be
given training and free literature on RTI . All are welcome to attend
the camp to strengthen the rti movement in india we expect that each
participant shall pledge to train atleast one person beyond our camp
to make our movement a success. in this camp we intend to train the
person standing at the tailend of the society so that he should know
that it is his right to get that bare minimum that is meant for him
but is going to the coffers of the corrupt.

the camp shall be headed by the leading rti exponents of the
country.please see the given link

http://file1.hpage.com/000223/57/bilder/np_5april10.jpg

on 10-04-2010 , we shall launch all india rti phone helpline { (
hindi and english only ) ( 8 am - 10 pm daily )} and e-mail based
personalised rti helpmail
aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com . our panel of experts shall personally
answer the queries on day to day basis . its our small step towards
spreading the giant and great cause called RTI.

best regards


Urvashi Sharma
F-2376 , Rajajipuram , Lucknow
pin - 226017 , Uttar Pradesh INDIA
contact - 9369613513
@i$#w@ry@!

Sunday 4 April, 2010

Five years on,babus know too little , Army of activists a boon or bane , US and Europe are mostly land of the free , YOUR RIGHT TO INFORMATION IS TRAPPED ,The govt is fooling us

http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=8&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=04-04-2010&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00800&format=&publabel=TOI#

Five years on,babus know too little

Manoj Mitta | TNN


As the five-year-old RTI continued to display precocity,these were two
of the cases that pushed the envelope - for better or for worse:
A query that sought information on the Prime Ministers delegation
responsible for the notoriously flawed drafting of the Sharmel-Sheikh
declaration
An application that seeks to get to the bottom of the disaster that
struck Delhis showpiece metro project when a pillar bracket collapsed
on a busy street,killing six people
The first case smacked of over-reach as the Central Information
Commission (CIC) directed the Ministry of External Affairs to allow
the RTI applicant,Subhash Chandra Agrawal,to inspect sensitive files
that had information on Indias relations with Pakistan.The second
application,filed by architect Sudhir Vohra,threatens to expose
structural design defects that risk the travelling public's safety.The
CIC ordered disclosure brushing aside a range of rather desperate
objections raised by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
The Sharm-el-Sheikh case was an opportunity for those who oppose
transparency to clamour all over again for RTI to be diluted.But the
fault lies less in the law and more in the way it was implemented in
this case by the CIC,an independent appellate body,and the MEA,the
public authority that had been approached for information.The RTI
exempts the authorities from disclosing information that would
prejudicially affect ... relations with a foreign state.This is one of
the exempt categories of information listed in Section 8 of the RTI.
This is what the central public information officer (CPIO) of the
MEA,Debraj Pradhan (a diplomat of joint secretary rank) should have
said when responding to Agrawals query in September 2009.He should
have cited Section 8 of the RTI Act and refused to disclose the names
of officers and the file notings behind the goof-up in the Indo-Pak
declaration.Instead,Pradhan appeared to adopt a cavalier attitude to
the ministrys obligations under RTI.He gave Agrawal a list of the
entire official delegation;he did not indicate who was responsible for
the blunder;he offered no explanation for withholding their file
notings.
When the CIC took up the matter,the MEA merely said no file notings of
the joint statement were available and it was therefore,impossible to
identify the officials who drafted it.The then information
commissioner Annapurna Dixit controversially directed the MEA in
January to allow Agrawal to inspect the relevant files to locate all
information as sought by him.
That the CIC gave such an over-the-top order,with little regard for
foreign relations repercussions,was because of the MEAs error of
omission.It took the MEA months to wake up to its statutory
entitlement of claiming exemption under Section 8.It did so only when
appealing in the Delhi high court last month against the CICs
order.The high court passed a stay order,showing that the RTIbashing
that had followed the CICs order was misplaced.
In the metro pillar case,on the other hand,the public authority
concerned excessively invoked Section 8.This was part of its attempt
to deny structural drawings and calculations to Vohra.The DMRC tried
in vain to seek exemption under Section 8(1)( a) saying disclosure
would compromise India's security interests.It also claimed exemption
under Section 8(1)( h) saying disclosure would impede the process of
investigation.However,the police told the CIC it had no objection to
the divulging of structural information.
The DMRCs most serious argument was its invocation of Section 8(1)( d)
to claim that the requested information was its intellectual property
and the result of considerable money and time.But once it conceded
that it was part of the state structure and claimed that it had
copyright over the information in question,Vohra demolished the DMRCs
argument.The CIC upheld his counter this month that Section 9 of the
RTI specifically barred the state from denying information on the
ground of copyright infringement.Thus,a vigilant applicant helped
expand the scope of information available under RTI.This is the way to
go for RTI to fulfil its muchtouted objective of deepening democracy
in the country.

IN THE FRONTLINE OF THE BATTLE

Subhash Agrawal |

His applications are the reason Supreme Court judges will have to make
their assets public

V Madhav |

His query forced the Tamil Nadu chief minister to appoint a public
information officer

Aishwarya Sharma |

The eight-year-old forced the municipal corporation to stop dumping
garbage near her school

http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=8&sectid=edid=&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=04-04-2010&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00801&publabel=TOI#

Army of activists a boon or bane

Shobhan Saxena | TNN


The Facebook page on the Right to Information challenges the
government with some provocative questions.We all pay taxes.Even a
beggar on the street pays sales tax when he buys anything from the
market.This money belongs to us.But where does this money go Why are
there no medicines in the hospitals Why are people dying of starvation
Why are the roads in such pathetic conditions Why are the taps dry
says the pages opening lines.Most of the 1000-odd members of the
online community agree that a good government is an open government.
India has been a democracy since 1947,but the process of good
governance strengthening the link between citizens and the state began
only in 2005,with the enactment of the RTI.Before that it was next to
impossible for an ordinary citizen to get any information from the
government because of confidentiality and the Official Secrets Act.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal,who has caused much disquiet with RTI
applications on a wide range of issues from judicial reforms to Padma
awards,laments that the babu mentality is still a big stumbling block
in getting real information.The government officials neither know the
RTI nor are they ready to share information with us.
One,if marginal reason,is the birth of the RTI activist.From 2005,the
country from its villages to its towns and cities has seen a new kind
of civic activist.He or she uses information procured from government
files to insist its functioning is more transparent and accountable.
V Madhav,30,has filed more than 250 applications and been the trigger
for landmark change.He believes the Act is meant more to ensure
transparency than good governance.There are many obstacles to
utilizing the RTI Act,but it is the only legislation that had given
power to the people, says the activist who quit his job with a IT firm
and joined an NGO.
But there is a decided nuisance value about RTI petitions that seek
information about silly things.Some government officials say this is
the misuse of the RTI.It is noteworthy that a Principal Information
Officer (PIO) makes the case on an internet discussion portal for the
RTI to be made more responsible.If India has to progress,RTI has to be
reformed.There must be some control over what can be asked under RTI,
the officer argues.Also there must be some limit over the number of
questions one can ask.If a citizen asks something beyond the Act,there
must be some provisions to punish him, says the anonymous
officer,calling the RTI a tussle between working and nonworking
people.
It is true that there have been recent instances of estranged wives
attempting to put a figure on their husbands salaries using the
RTI.Neighbours have tried to use RTI to settle scores with each
other.In UP,a group of RTI activists asked chief minister Mayawati to
set-up an expert committee to investigate Gumnami Baba,whom a retired
Supreme Court judge purportedly identified as Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose in a documentary.
But Agrawal says frivolous cases do not make a nonsense of the
RTI.Even educated people dont really know about the RTI or how to use
it.Thats why there are some frivolous cases,but thats no reason to
make any amendments to it.


How to file a query

Draft your application on an ordinary sheet of paper and submit it to
the Public Information Officer (PIO) by post or in person.But some
states specify a set format

Applications can be filed with the PIO or Assistant PIO (APIO).In
Central government departments,629 post offices have been designated
APIOs

It costs Rs 10 to file an RTI with a Central government department.The
fee differs by state.It can be paid in cash or through a demand
draft,bankers cheque or postal order


http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=8&sectid=edid=&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=04-04-2010&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00802&publabel=TOI#

US and Europe are mostly land of the free

AN OPEN SECRET HOW THEY DO IT ELSEWHERE

Washington: Some 15 years ago,an Indian correspondent here tentatively
phoned the US commerce department to ask about the then commerce
secretary Ron Brown's forthcoming visit to India.The Indian Embassy
was tightlipped and used to the desi system that abhorred giving
sensitive information to the media/public.But the US commerce
Department was not only happy to answer questions,it had a question of
its own when asked about the Indian-American entrepreneurs
accompanying Brown: Whats your fax number Well send you the list.
The US remains one of the most open societies in the world when it
comes to harmless,retaillevel information.Its a society that discloses
intimate details of the Presidents annual health check up,his tax
returns and the salary of every White House and Congressional
employee.
The internet has helped.But Uncle Sam gets touchy when it comes to
state secrets pertaining to national security and individual
privacy.Although President Lyndon Johnson signed the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) in 1966 to make government more transparent,the
legislation has been amended several times to create nine notable
exemptions,ranging from national defence to foreign policy interests.
A tenacious public,a vigilant Congress and receptive judicial system
keeps the US government on its toes,but the executive still manages
occasionally to dance around the law.


Chidanand Rajghatta

Sweden

It enacted the Freedom of the Press Act in 1766,granting the public
access to government documents.The Act,considered the first freedom of
information legislation in the modern sense of the term,became part of
the Constitution.Known as the Principle of Public Access,the Act
guarantees:
An unimpeded view of activities of the government and local authorities
Access to all documents handled by the authorities
Individual handling of each request for potentially sensitive information

United Kingdom

The Freedom of Information Act was passed by parliament in 2000,but
came into force only in 2005.It guarantees:
The right to access information held by 1,00,000 public bodies and
police forces,hospitals,schools,local councils
The government is obliged to reply to requests for information,making
it possible for people to know how decisions are made and how public
money is spent
Any person,of any nationality,and living anywhere in the world,can
make a written request for information,and expect a response within 20
working days.For the majority,there is no charge.However,requests can
be rejected for reasons of cost or public interest

China: Baby steps towards open society

Beijing: China has begun to take baby steps towards a relatively more
open society in which citizens have the right to know whats on the
mind of their leaders.The Communist state is still miles away from
granting its citizens the right to information.Of late,provincial
governments have begun to hold meetings with select groups of
people,who are shown the draft versions of new laws being formulated
by the government.The consultation process aims to get feedback on
crucial matters,such as property laws and health services.But such
consultations are still rare.
This is a long way away from a cast-iron right to
information.Questions have also been raised about the composition of
the groups,with some alleging they are linked to the Communist Party.


Saibal Dasgupta


http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=8&sectid=edid=&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=04-04-2010&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00803&publabel=TOI#

YOUR RIGHT TO INFORMATION IS TRAPPED

REALITY CHECK

March 29,2010

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION CHIEF SHAILESH GANDHI,WARNING THAT THE
RISE IN PENDING RTI APPLICATIONS KILL OFF THE VERY SPIRIT OF INDIAS
MOST PROGRESSIVE LAW

Number

of pending cases with the CIC | 11,500

Backlog

in UP,Tamil Nadu and

Karnataka

| Six months

Number

of pending cases in

Maharashtra

| 15-18,000

March 31,2010

It can be tough to file an RTI application,even at the Ministry of
Personnel and Public Grievances,the Acts nodal department in the heart
of the national capital,as Sunday Times learnt this week.Heres what
happened:

The guard at North Block,home to the DoPT,uses the barrel of his gun
to point out the RTI window at Gate No 5,hidden in a dusty corner.The
window panes are broken and have been replaced by plywood,wire mesh
and a rusty iron grill.A small hole in the lefthand corner is your
window to the RTI in New Delhi.There is no signboard.Push the wood
covering the hole and a head pops up.It asks: What do you want Even
before you hand over your RTI application,the head asks you to come
tomorrow because his cash receipt book is finished.He finally accepts
the application,shuts the window and promises to telephone when the
receipt book arrives.He does,the next day and you get your receipt 24
hours after filing the application.We expect the answers to our RTI
query (below) in 30 days.Watch this space.

Shobhan Saxena

SUNDAY TIMES RTI QUERY


Which Central ministries and departments have not so far abided by the
obligation cast on them by Section 4 of RTI to make a proactive
disclosure of the specified information
What action have you,as the nodal department for RTI,taken against
public authorities that have not complied with Section 4 of RTI by not
making suo motu disclosure of the prescribed information
Is there not a prescribed format for disclosure of information under
Section 4 of RTI
What action have you taken against public authorities that have not
disclosed Section 4 information in the prescribed format

The RTI window at the nodal ministry in Delhi


http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=8&sectid=edid=&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=04-04-2010&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00804&publabel=TOI#

The govt is fooling us

Harpal Singh is 60 and has fire in his belly.A retired Indian Airlines
operator,Singh has filed roughly 25 RTI applications from October
13,2006.This is his way of fighting corruption,favouritism and
nepotism in the aviation sector.He tells Shobha John why he bothers to
file RTI queries and if they do the job

What type of information have you asked for

On many issues: Why has GMR,the private developer of Delhi
airport,been charging high parking and user development fees Why have
arrears been paid to AI and not to IA (since 1997) despite their
merger Why is IA lending cars to the ministry of civil aviation

Were you satisfied with the answers

No.Most of the replies were half-baked,given simply so that the
officer concerned wouldnt have to pay the penalty of Rs 250 per day
that the RTI Act imposes.But I understand why people dont give me full
information its to save their jobs.

So,is the RTI Act any use

The government is fooling everyone with this Act.I have never been
given the information I sought.The Act should be amended so that just
one application is enough to get all the information.Its a can of
worms now.

What can an RTI applicant do with the information he gets

A public interest litigation can be filed on the basis off the
information.The information can be given to the media,sent to the CBI
or given to the opposition who can take it up in Parliament.But the
opposition here is not strong enough.

Are you seen as something of a nuisance now

I am called RTI Harpal Singh! Most people say of me,Yeh naak mei dam
karta hai (He is a troublemaker). Some senior people even tried to
dissuade me from filing applications,telling me to take it easy after
retirement.My family has suffered,no one was ready to employ my son
because of my reputation.Now,hes in business.

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Urvashi Sharma
F-2376 , Rajajipuram , Lucknow
pin - 226017 , Uttar Pradesh INDIA
contact - 9369613513
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rti helpline-8081898081 , 9235169855