JOIN USBabus and clerks in the Delhi government are being put to test over their knowledge of the Right to Information Act in a move to encourage transparency and speedy disposal of applications under the anti-corruption law.
“A comprehension test on RTI Act, 2005 will be held on November 4 and the top performers would be awarded,” said an official of the administrative reforms department.
Such tests are held annually but under the AAP government the outcome is being given greater importance by the Arvind Kejriwal government, he said.
The increased stress of the Chief Minister prompt and efficient disposal of RTI applications is being seen in the light of his own anti-corruption activism through NGO Parivartan that he co-founded before joining politics.
”We still remember the days almost a decade ago when Kejriwal and his NGO held an RTI camp in the IG stadium adjacent to the Delhi Secretariat when Sheila Dikshit was the Chief Minister,” said an office assistant.
An official said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, while distributing prizes to the toppers of the last year’s exam in March, had even expressed his desire to appear in the test to sharpen his knowledge.
“This year not just the toppers but even other good performers will be invited to the award ceremony,” said an official, quoting Sisodia’s desire to improve the employees’ interest in the RTI.
An official said the government employees who will undergo the competitive comprehension test next week have been divided into two categories.
“There is one group of lower division clerks and equivalent workers and another group of superintendents, officials about superintendents and upper division clerks,” said an official.
By last week, all candidates appearing for the test were issued the admission tickets for the two exam centres at Sham Nath Marg and Raj Niwas Marg, he said.
The test was open to all employees and those who applied for taking part in the competitive exercise were enrolled, said the official.
The AAP government sees the RTI law as an effective tool to weed out corruption – an issue which topped the agenda of the party ahead of the Assembly polls in February.