BMC cell to hasten RTI process

In a bid to speed up the entire information-providing procedure involved in the Right To Information (RTI) act, the BMC has set up a Technical Advisory Committee that includes administrative staff and experienced RTI activists.

In a bid to speed up the entire information-providing procedure involved in the Right To Information (RTI) act, the BMC has set up a Technical Advisory Committee that includes administrative staff and experienced RTI activists.

HT Image

The nine-member recommendatory committee met for the first time on Thursday and will meet once a month.

After closely studying the nature of RTI applications received by the corporation over the past year, the committee has found that the maximum number of applications was received by the Building Proposals Department and Buildings and Factories Department.

“Almost 15% of the total number of RTI applications received across Maharashtra state came to the BMC last year. Over the past few years alone, there has been a perceptible rise in the number RTI applications,” said Shailesh Gandhi, former chief information commissioner and TAC chairman. “Thus, the committee will try and understand the nature of information that citizens seek, and if necessary, make it available on a suo moto basis.”

The committee will also help the BMC to put up important information on the website.

RTI activist Bhaskar Prabhu from Mahiti Adhikar Manch said, “There are times when the concerned civic staff does not provide responses to applications in the right manner. Thus, the TAC will also be training these officials to provide accurate information to the citizens.” Prabhu insisted that this training would be undertaken through interactive sessions, meetings and workshops with the civic staff.