The RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT has done wonders for countless Indians. After Independence, the country became a slave to corruption. It took more than 50years for the Government to gift its citizens a weapon to fight against the enemy within.
However, i had a very unusual experience with RTI. I was anxiously waiting to receive "Chartered Secretary", the monthly journal published by ICSI. It had been more than a fortnight since its usual time of me receiving it. One fine morning as i had some work near the post office, i casually went in to enquire. The person on the front desk was doing his usual work of entering some data into the system. I asked him, "Sir, can i have the RTI form?", he was surprised to hear me ask something strange. He, with the usual "do not care" attitude, that most of the government officials carry asked me a very funny counter question "what is RTI?..........." By this time a well educated gentleman, of around 35 years who had come to buy some stamps started listening our conversation. This might be because he knew what RTI means and must have been curious to know, "what on earth does a 21years old have to do with RTI???"
However, the clerk asked, his superior , the Head Postmaster almost yelling, "sir this do we stock RTI forms?" The Head Postmaster was equally alarmed just like the young gentleman. he replied very politely, "well be don't have them for the time being, but if you have any query you can submit it in writing on a white sheet, pay the required fee of Rs 10/- and your matter will be sorted out". I clarified to him that all i wanted, was to purchase the form and have a look at it. Since this Act had done wonders all over the country, i was curious to at least have a form, let aside using my new Fundamental Right, RIGHT TO INFORMATION.
Then next i asked him about my journal. I also told him that it has been delivered to other parts of city very long back and its about time since i should have received it. This made him sweat more. He asked me by which mode was it posted, was it a register post or a speed post? The journal was sent through ordinary post. He was more than happy to reply that no records are maintained by mails sent by ordinary post and will enquire it with the post master in charge of the area, who was on a three day leave. Just before i was leaving the premises he asked my full name.
In the afternoon while i was in the office, the area post master came to my house, rang the bell, hand delivered the journal (which is very uncommon) to my father and said that the delay was because of he being on leave.............
This was a very funny as well as very serious incident. The RTI Act has set a terror amongst the Government Officials to "Perform or Perish". Just the day before this incident i watched on NDTV, use and abuse of RTI. An officer of the Revenue Dept, Madhya Pradesh was fined Rs 25,000/- for not giving information, on the other hand 14 people who had used this act in Bihar Police to know the latest developments of pending cases relating to murder, robbery, etc. were fabricated in false cases............... their fault the used RTI.
In my case just by uttering "RTI", my work was done..............
No wonder RTI has amassed every one.
Take my advice use this RIGHT it creates miracles.>>>>>>>>>> the fixed time to give information is 30 days, if this does not happen then consider the person responsible, just signed his suicide note.
for more info
No comments:
Post a Comment