Our work on RTI

CIVIC conducts workshops to the urban poor groups and RWAs and networks of NGOs in the city on the use of RTI. CIVIC facilitates KriaKatte, an activist’s group on RTI as the secretariat. Every second Saturday KriaKatte meets at CIVIC to chalk out the actions under RTI - to make the service agencies proactively disclose under section 4.1.b of the act, to popularize RTI among common citizen of Bangalore by conducting workshops/training, to realize the spirit of RTI by coordinating with the DPAR and KIC. CIVIC uses the act to access data/information on the service levels and conducts public hearings.

On 18th Feb 2009 CIVIC and KriaKatte met the Principal Secretary, DPAR-Janaspandana and the team. A time bound action plan was discussed and the department promised to take up necessary action. Quarterly review meetings were fixed to monitor progress. The key issues raised were - suo motu declarations by all departments, recommendation to high power committee to include in the school syllabus, using video-conferencing facility available at district level, compulsory appearance of the PIO for hearing and compulsory hearing by the first appellate authority.

On 28th March 2009 CIVIC and KriaKatte met the commissioners of Karnataka Information Commission to discuss the issues faced by the RTI users and the remedial actions. Review meetings as and when necessary is agreed upon by the commission. The key issues discussed were - Proposed programmes/facilities by the commission under GOI funds and suggestions, data on the pendency of cases and ways to improve clearance, upgradation of web site with Cause List & Orders Of KIC and direction to GOK to provide specific budget allocation to each Dept. for effective implementation and creating awareness on RTI as per the direction of GOI.

On 4th May 2009 CIVIC and KriaKatte met the commissioner and heads of depts. of Bruhath Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the ULB to discuss on streamlining implementation of RTI. In the KIC the largest number of applications have appeared from the BBMP. It was brought to the notice of the Commissioner that non implementation of the proactive declaration has given rise to the situation burdening the KIC. He promised to put 4.1.a and 4.1.b information of all departments at all levels with in 7 days. He agreed to restructure and decentralise the RTI cell, train PIOs and keep a separate budget for the RTI implementation among other things.

He admitted that the BBMP has no property registry since 2000. The total property known to them is about 3.5 lacs where as this year 6.5 property owners paid property tax and there is not less than 21 lac properties in BBMP area. Imagine the revenue if all properties were to be brought under the registry!

On 25th March 2009 CIVIC gave a workshop to a large gathering of people from urban poor neighbourhoods at United Theological Society where two Information Commissioners participated.