Laptop scheme hot topic in law freshers’ RTI queries
Some students of the Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University filed RTI applications demanding details of UP government’s much-touted laptop distribution scheme.
Students of the Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University started their unique mentoring initiative on Monday, with seniors teaching the freshers about filing Right to Information applications.
And putting their newly acquired knowledge to good use, some of the students filed applications demanding details of the state government’s much-touted laptop distribution scheme-what configuration has been used in the laptops, their cost, break up of purchase, distribution and number of gadgets yet to be given away as well as criteria for selecting beneficiaries.
The session was organised for first year students by the university’s Legal Aid Committee and Care About People Foundation. It started off with senior students Rishabh Kapoor, Akansha Tiwari and Piyush Raj Verma introducing the basic features of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
Thereafter, the floor was left open for freshers to clarify their doubts, after which students were asked to fill out RTI applications on any issue of their choice.
Apart from the laptop scheme, many questions were directed to development authorities of the student’s native cities and pertained to issue like the maintenance of community parks, roads and other projects.
One student sought information on the contribution of the Indian railways to the GDP of the nation and how much revenue it had generated for the government in last five years.
Students also sought information on a number of projects being run by the government for cleaning of the Gomti river.
In all, more than 70 application were filed which shall be processed and fine-tuned by the Legal Aid Committee before being sent to various departments.
The name of the person whose RTI is found to be most well drafted would be announced as the winner and he or she shall be given preference during induction to the committee.