Private firm to help Huda with RTI plea redressal

To cope with the rising number of Right to Information (RTI) appeals, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has roped in a technology partner to make the redressal system more effective and accountable.

To cope with the rising number of Right to Information (RTI) appeals, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has roped in a technology partner to make the redressal system more effective and accountable.

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“There is a shortage of staff and most of our officials are already overworked. Above that, they have been given additional charge of SPIOs (special public information officers who reply to RTI appeals). This leads to unnecessary delays,” said Huda administrator Nitin Kumar Yadav.

The private partner has been selected and the firm has sought around a month’s time to prepare the software, informed a senior officer.

While talking about the efficacy of the project, Yadav told HT: “They will help re-frame the questions which, at times, are very subjective. A report will be prepared on the pending work which would be forwarded to the SPIO.”

As a trial run, the tech-driven public information system will be rolled out at the estate officer level.

“If successful, we will replicate this at the executive engineer level,” added Yadav. The private agency will also be given orientation lessons by Huda officials about the laws that govern the civic body and RTI Act. “The agency will act as an interface between the public and corporation. However, if they don’t work properly, we can call off the contract,” he said.