Centre seeks states' report card on implementation of RTI

The Centre has sought a detailed report from all states on utilisation of funds sent by it to promote awareness and improving transparency in government through effective implementation of Right to Information Act.

Officials said the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which acts as a nodal agency for the implementation of the transparency law, has written to secretaries of State Information Commissions (SICs) seeking details of funds utilisation.

They said the states have been asked to give a compliance certificate at the earliest, failing which they would stop further grants by the Centre.

To further strengthen the RTI regime, the government had in 2008 launched a centrally sponsored scheme with an objective of creating awareness and for training of officers, both in central and state Governments.

Besides, a new scheme 'improving transparency and accountability in government through effective implementation of Right to Information Act' was also introduced for the remaining two years of the 11th Five year plan, that is between 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Officials said since both the schemes are likely to be continued in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17), the DoPT has decided to initiate the process of receiving and examining the proposals from the states to assess the implementation of the scheme.

The RTI Act was enacted in 2005.

As per the scheme of generating awareness, the Centre grants Rs 2.5 lakh each to a State Information Commission for organising RTI week between October 5-11 every year, another Rs 2.5 lakh each to training institutes for innovative awareness generation programmes and Rs 50 lakh each for organising workshops and seminars.

Grants are given for conducting training of Central Public Information Officers and Appellate Authorities in the States Information Commissions under the 'capacity building programme'.