The Times of India 02.08.2012
Urban development dept has maximum RTI grievances
GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Information Commission
(GIC) in its first year of implementing the Right To Information Act
(RTI) received the most appeals and complaints about urban development
and housing department.
In its first ever report on RTI tabled
during a one-day session of the state assembly on July 19, GIC said
36,122 complaints and appeals were received regarding urban development
and housing during the year 2006-07.
The energy and petrochemicals department was next with 6,268 unsatisfied applicants.There were, however, no complaints and appeals for panchayats, rural housing and rural development.
An analysis carried out by GIC points out that against a six month
period of 2005-06, after the implementation of the RTI, there was a
nine-fold increase in applications the very next year. The numbers had
gone up from a mere 8,433 to 76,957.
The GIC has observed, “In context of this Act, citizens had high expectations and different types of imaginations.Instead of considering this act as a helping tool, citizens saw this as
a sharp edged weapon. Their imaginations, expectations and excitement
were therefore, found to have reflected in a large proportion this year
(2006-07).”
An analysis of statistics from GIC has led to infer
that departments and authorities undertaking programmes for the benefit
and daily needs of the public, receive the most applications. Referring
to the high number of appeals and complaints pertaining to the urban
development and housing, the GIC further said that majority of the
applicants were satisfied with information furnished as the numbers of
subsequent appeals and complaints came down tremendously to 363 and 143
respectively.
GIC has also observed, “When the Act came into
force in October 2005, officers of the public authorities were not well
versed with provisions and ancillary duties. As a result, at different
levels, a great deal of ambiguity, concern and to some extent,
misunderstandings prevailed. On the other hand, excitement and a feeling
of right prevailed among the citizens towards the Act.”