Activists complain of inordinate delay in replies to RTI pleas

On behalf of Change India, a social worker had applied for details pertaining to Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board. He had sought for details pertaining to the number of houses built by the board since 2005 and the areas covered. The other details sought included as to how many tenements have been built and how many are yet to be handed over to the beneficiaries and the projects that are in progress. 

The plea had also sought for details about the two projects that were initiated during the DMK regime in Coimbatore and given up halfway. The questions raised wanted information on the reasons behind the project failing to take off and as to whether action was initiated against the contractors.

But contrary to expectations, the State Information Commission failed to provide the information stating that it was a laborious process. Subsequently, an appeal on this issue resulted in the same stoic answer along with a comment that the information sought for does not qualify under public interest.

Change India, Director, A Narayanan, peeved with the reply from the State Information Commission, said, “The queries were put forth for the purpose evaluating the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, which has an extremely bad track record. If details about an agency working for the poor is not in public interest what else is.” 

Activists, who met with similar experiences, claim that the whole purpose of the Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the government, contain corruption and make our democracy work. In fact, the foundation of the Act, which dwells on the aspect that an informed citizen is better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the Government more accountable to the Governed has been ignored.