Democracy hanged till death!!!!
This is a historic year for India. Within next few months, we would be celebrating our 60 years of Independence. We have done great by achieving incredible growth in services sector and even obtaining the rare feet of achieving close to double digit growth last year. But all this at what cost: by disregarding the value of life, by overlooking the values and fundamental principle like Democracy, on which this nation was envisioned by our national leaders.
The word Democracy has lost its meaning; at least for the people living in a small area in Maninagar, Ahmedabad. These people (belonging to the denotified tribes) have been living in this region for the past 50 years. However even after the denial of fundamental rights, these people have been trying to make the living out of the minimal resources left at their disposal. As if this inhumane behavior from the government and society was not enough, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has been trying for the past 15 years, to move these people out of this place, using callous measures like taking their cooking utensils, beating women and removing even the last inch of shelter available with them.
Democracy means rule by the people. However today, the governmental organizations in Ahmedabad have clearly forgotten the meaning of this word. They are unable to listen in the bawl of these people. Perhaps they are afraid that actually allowing these people to stay in that area might expose their failure as the government and will leave a blot on their “developing state” image, which they have to materialize before the next elections. It is not as if the government is using these cheap tactics for the first time. Before the last assembly elections, the government showed lots of commitment for the betterment of these people, but the result were unsurprisingly same.
There is little recourse left for those of us outside the power/political structure at this point. We can do what we have been doing for the past 60 years — calling, writing, emailing petitions, protesting, and communicating other to join hands. However in this mist of growth, we must not forget one thing that, we have failed as a country by not providing the “Right to Live” to our citizens. So on 15th of August 2007 we will not only celebrate our Independence Day, but it will also be a day of mourning by recounting our failures as a nation.
However even in the current scenario change is inevitable. The only thing in our hand is the form of the change. Hence we should stand with renewed anger and energy. We must fight! We, the little people, are all that is left to protect democracy, the fundamental rights and our dream of India.
भागता बचपन
निगम के डर से भागते छोटे-छोटे दो पैर
थक कर जब रुकना चाहते हैं
पुलिस के डंडे का डर उन्हें रुकने नहीं देता।
जिस उमर में मानते हैं बच्चे अपने बाप को सुपर-हीरो
देखा है हमने उस उमर में, पुलिस से पिटते अपने बापों को।
नाजुक सी ऊँगली जो पकडती है माँ का आँचल
स्याह है आज, बुट-पालिस के रंगो से।
तोड़ता होगा कोई बालू का घरौंदा कहीं समुंद्र के किनारे
हमने अपने घरों को टूटते हुए देखा है।
विकास की तबाही
एक बार एक बंदर मछलियों को नदी में से निकालकर पेङ पर लटका रहा था। वहाँ से गुजरते हुए किसी ने इसका कारण पुछा तो बंदर ने कहा कि वह डुबती मछलियों को बचा रहा है।
कुछ-कुछ ऐसा हीं बंदरनुमा काम हमारी सरकार आदिवासियों के साथ विकास के नाम पर करती आ रही है।
आदिवासी समाज एक पूर्णतः स्वाधीन और स्वालम्बी समाज होता है। ये लोग अपनी सारी जरूरतों की चीजों का निर्माण स्वयं करते हैं। वस्तुतः आदिवासी समाज ही वह समाज है, जिसकी परिकल्पना महात्मा गाँधी ने की थी। जरूरते कम, स्वतंत्र और स्वावलम्बी। लेकिन हमारे नेताओं को महात्मा गाँधी का सपना भी अविकसीत लगता है तो इसमें आदिवासियों का क्या कसूर, फिर उन्हे क्यों दंडित किया जा रहा है…
सरकार को बार-बार आदिवासी विकास की चिन्ता क्यों सताती है। अगर सरकार विकास के लिए इतना उत्सुक है, तो वह उन किसानो के लिए कुछ क्यों नहीं करती जो हर साल आत्महत्या करते हैं, गाँव के उन अस्पतालों में डॉक्टर क्यों नहीं भेजती जहाँ हर साल कई लोग बिना ईलाज के मर जाते हैं। और उन लोगो को नौकरी क्यों नहीं देती जो बेरोजगार हैं। इसलिए क्योंकि विकास तो बस एक ढोंग है। वास्तविक कहानी कुछ और हीं है। सरकार नेता चलाते हैं, और नेता बनाती है पार्टी। पार्टी के जिस तरह के काम हो रहें हैं उसके लिए उन्हें पैसे की जरूरत होती है। और पैसा उन लोगो से आता है, जो बाजार चला रहे हैं, ये ऐसे लोग हैं जिनका कोई नैतिक मूल्य नहीं होता। इन लोगो को अपना उद्योग चलाने के लिए सस्ता कच्चा माल चाहिए, जो अब केवल जंगलो में हीं रह गये हैं। तब ये लोग विकास के नाम पर अपनी योजना बनाते हैं। वहाँ विकास के नाम पर कुछ ब्रेड-बिस्कुट बाँट दिया जाता है, फिर उन्के मिट्टी के घरों को तोङ कर तंबू लगा दिया जाता है। वास्तविक उद्देश्य होता है उन्के जीवन पद्धति को नष्ट करना, ताकि इन लोगो से सस्ते मजदूर की तरह काम कराया जा सके…
विकास एक प्राकृतिक प्रक्रिया है, जो किसी भी जाति या देश में आन्तरिक कारणों से आता है। बाह्य दबाव कई बार संस्कृति के विनाश का कारण बनता है। तिब्बत में चीन ने विकास के नाम पर जो उत्पात मचाया, वह हमारे सामने प्रत्यक्ष है। इस छद्म आदिवासी विकास के जो परिणाम आये हैं वे हृदय-विदारक हैं। जो लोग पहले अपनी जाति के साथ संतुष्ट थे, उनसे उनका समाज छीन लिया गया। निष्कपट लोगों को बहलाफुसला कर धोखा देना सभ्य समाज की आदत बन गयी है। भोले-भाले लोगों को कभी कुछ पैसे देकर, तो कभी दारू पिलाकर कागज पर हस्ताक्षर करा लिया जाता है। फिर आदिवासियों के घरो को तोङकर विकास का खेल खेला जाता है।
और क्या सरकार ने इस तथाकथित विकास के नाम पर नौटकी करने के बाद इसके परिणाम जानने की कोशिश की। या फिर शायद उन्हें इसकी जरूरत ही महसूस नहीं होती। जंगल खत्म मतलब विकास पुरा। क्योंकि कोई आदिवासी नहीं दिखता तो ये अनुमान कर लिया जाता है कि वे लोग समाज की मुख्यधारा में मिल गये होंगे। अब वे किस मुख्य धारा में मिले हैं इसको जानने की ना ही इन्हें कोई इच्छा है, और ना ही अवकाश। उन्हें अब तलाश होती है- काटने के लिए एक नया जंगल और विकास के नाम पर नौंटकी करने के लिए एक नया आदिवासी समुदाय…
आज ऐसे आदिवासी लोग शहर में मजदूरी करके पेट पालते हैं। उनमें से तो काफी तो अपने समुदाय से अलग नये वातावरण में नहीं ढल पाने के कारण प्रारंभ में ही मर गये। जो बच गये वे आज किसी तरह जीवन काट रहें हैं। हाँ इस मामले में उनका विकास हुआ है कि अब वे नंगे रहने की जगह फटा शर्ट-पैंट पहनते हैं, जंगल में शिकार करने की जगह शहर में बोरे ढोते हैं, रात को महुआ पीकर अपने लोगो के बीच नाचने की जगह मालिको से गाली खाते हैं। और अगर सरकार इसी को विकास मानती है तो उनका विकास हुआ है, कुछ जिन्दा आदमी को मारकर मुख्यधारा में मिला लिया गया है।
दहशत बुल्डोज़र की
फरवरी 8, 2007 को एक बार फिर नगर निगम का बुल्डोज़र मणीनगर बस्ती पर चला। फिर से एक बार वहाँ के लोगों के घरों को तोङा गया। एक बार फिर उनकी बस्ती उजाङ दी गई।
भूख हङताल के समय हमें जो वादे किए गए थे उन वादों को निभाया नहीं गया। भूख हङताल को देख कर अनिल मुकीम (म्युनिसिपल कमिश्नर) और साचा (डेप्युटी म्युनिसिपल कमिश्नर) ने मणीनगर के लोगों को ज़मीन देने का वादा किया। पर हमें क्या पता था कि यह वादा भी सरकार के बकी वादों की तरह खोकला होगा। वादे करने के बाद अनिल मुकीम दिल्ली की ओर प्रस्थान कर लिए और साचा का भी तबादला कर दिया गया। दो ऐसे व्यक्ति जिन्होंने हमें उम्मीद की एक किरण दिखाई थी, जिन्होंने हमें मणीनगर वासियों के लिए ज़मीन देने का वादा किया था, वे अब अहमदाबाद नगर निगम से जा चुके थे।
नतीजा यह हुआ कि इनकी जगह नए अफसर आए। हमारा केस इन अफसरों को दिया गया। इन नए अफसरों ने हमारे साथ एक नया खेल खेलना चालु कर दिया। हमारी अर्जी कभी कलैक्टर को दी जाती तो कभी कमिश्नर को। कुछ समय के बाद हमनें कलैक्टर के साथ मुलाकात की। इस मुलाकात में हमें यह कह कर वापिस भेज दिया गया कि सरकार एक नीति बना रही है जिसके अन्तर्गत अहमदाबाद के अन्दर जितने भी विमुख जनजाति (डी0 एन0 टी0) के लोग हैं, उन्हें घर या ज़मीन दी जाएगी। हमें यह भी बोला गया कि यह घर या ज़मीन हमें कमिश्नर देंगे। अपना पल्ला इस समस्या से झाङने के बाद कलेक्टर ने हमारी अर्जी कमिश्नर को भेज दी।
हमने कुछ दिनों तक इन्ज़ार किया, यह समझते हुए कि सरकार सचमुच अपनी कही हुई बातों पर अमल कर रही है, पर हमें क्या पता था कि हमारे साथ एक खेल खेला जा रहा है। फरवरी 8, 2007 को फिर से मणीनगर बस्ती को तोङने के लिए नगर निगम ने बुल्डोज़र भेजा। बस्ती के कुछ घरों को तोङा गया। उस दिन से यह बुल्डोज़र और नगर निगम के लोग लगभग रोज़ बस्ती आने लगे। जब निगम के इन्सपेक्टर प्रकाश से हमने इसका कारण पूछा तो उसने कहा कि – ऊपर से ओर्डरज़ आए हैं।
इसके तुरन्त बाद कमिश्नर से एक मुलाकात निश्चित की गई। हम कमिश्नर से यह पूछना चाहते थे कि ऐसा क्यों किया जा रहा है। जब हम कमिश्नर से मिले तो उसने साफ शब्दों में कह दिया कि घर देना उसके हाथ में नहीं है।
पहले कलेक्टर फिर कमिश्नर, दोनों ने अपने हाथ खङे कर लिए…
इसके बाद हमें समझ में आ गया कि कोई नीति नहीं बनाई जा रही है। यह सब तो एक ढोंग था। हमें यह समझ में आया कि सरकार हमें बस अपने इशारों पर नचा रही थी और यह समझकर कि शायद इस बार सरकार सही में कुछ नीति बना रही है, हम भी सरकार के इशारों पर नाचते रहे।
परिणाम यह हुआ कि आज सरकार के झूठे वादों की वजह से करीब दो हज़ार इन्सान सङक के किनारे बिना किसी छत के, बिना किसी घर के, जानवरों की तरह अपना जीवन व्यतीत कर रहे हैं। उनके पास खाने को रोटी तक नहीं है। होगी कहाँ से, निगम के बुल्डोज़र ने उनके मन में इतनी दहशत बिठा दी है कि ये लोग अपने धन्धे तक पर जाने से डरते हैं। वे डरते हैं कि अगर उनके पीछे से निगम के लोग बस्ती में आ गए तो उनके परिवार का क्या होगा।
जिन बच्चों को हमने पिछले एक साल से स्कूल जाने के लिए प्रेरित किया था, वे अब स्कूल जाने के नाम से भी डरते हैं। वे डरते हैं कि कहीं पीछे से अगर निगम का बुल्डोज़र उनकी बस्ती में फिर से आ गया तो कहीं वे अपने माँ – बाप से अलग ना हो जाएँ।
यह है हमारी सरकार की डेवलपमैंट पोलिसी। यह है हमारे आई0 ए0 एस0 और आई0 पी0 एस0 अफसरों का दूसरा चेहरा। यह है हमारी सरकार का असली चेहरा।
Homeless in Maninagar
“Sambhav” is Sanskrit for “possible.” Sambhav aims at setting up a platform where youth can interact and exchange ideas, and think of ways to use their talents and skills for the benefit of society. Among our many initiatives towards realizing this aim is our work in Maninagar, a suburb near Ahmedabad. For those who are familiar with the area and its politics, Maninagar is Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency.
We have been working in Maninagar for over a year now, and our work is primarily focused on striving for the upliftment of members of four Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNT) who have been living in slums behind the railway station for the past forty years. Denotified and Nomadic Tribes are defined as tribes whose people are “addicted to the systematic commission of non-bailable offences.” It is a classic example of “collective guilt”, how it has been endorsed by law, and how people are made to believe that it has indeed been created in public interest. In simple words, anyone born into such tribes is considered a criminal, not just by authorities, but by the average person on the street too.
The people belonging to DNTs in Maninagar are mostly illiterate and live under absolutely deplorable conditions. They do not have access to essential civic amenities, electricity, a proper water supply, or even basic health and sanitation facilities. They make a living cleaning people’s ears, or selling maps, plastic toys, home-made ropes etc. They hardly have enough money to afford two meals a day, and most of their children do not attend school.
As if this were not enough, they have been facing constant harassment from government officials over their “land.” The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) wants to demolish their homes in order to go ahead with its “development initiatives” without making any promises of resettlement. They also have to deal with local police officials who take advantage of their helplessness, and often arrest some of their youth without reason, so that they can clear their pending FIRs.
Members of Sambhav have been visiting the slums where these people live every week and are trying to help and support these people in every way possible. Among many initiatives, we have been organizing weekly classes for the children in these slums. We have been teaching them basic reading and writing skills, counting, elementary arithmetic, painting and coloring, and song and dance. We have been trying to make our classes as “fun” as possible for the children without taking too much of their time (since some of the children work, and others have to do household chores), and with minimum usage of crayons and paper (as we have to buy them for the kids, and availability of anything in the classroom leads to a riot).
We have also been interacting with community members in order to understand what they feel about what they are being made to go through, and motivate them to keep their hopes alive.
Also supporting us in our struggle is Budhan Theater, a theater group that comprises of youth from a DNT in neighboring Chharanagar. Budhan Theater has been performing a street-play called “Bulldozer”, which highlights the atrocities committed by the authorities on the tribal people of Maninagar. It is a very powerful play, and a great example of how art can be used to fight for just causes.
A few days back, without warning, AMC officials destroyed the homes of these tribal people in order to go ahead with their “developmental plans.” A meeting with the AMC Commissioner was held in order to discuss resettlement issues, but his response was disheartening to say the least.
Link: Some pictures of the place (Anthropologist Kerim Friedman’s Flickr Page)
In protest against this robbing of homes, gross violation of human rights, and lack of concern for human dignity shown by the AMC in Maninagar, Sambhav has started an online petition. Please take the time to go through the petition and sign it if you’re convinced by our argument. A mere two-second effort on your part could lead to a major change in the lives of these homeless people.
Thanks.
डीनोटिफाइड – टूटते घरों का सच
कुछ बातें हैं जो कभी नहीं बदलतीं। दिसम्बर 26, 1997 को मणीनगर में रहने वाले डीनोटिफाइड लोगों की बस्ती उजाङ दी गई। कारण था, कुछ लोग स्टेशन के पीछे वाले सङक के किनारे अवैध रूप से रहते थे। वैध – अवैध, ये एक सिक्के के ही दो पहलू हैं। सिक्का किसके पास है, यह महत्वपूर्ण है…
यहाँ वे लोग रहते हैं जिन्हें समाज जन्मजात अपराधी मानता है। नाम के पीछे डब्गर, बंजारा, सांहसी लगा हो तो पुलिस को दूसरे किसी सबूत की ज़रूरत नहीं होती – इन्हें अपराधी मानने के लिए। जब भी शहर में कोई अपराध होता है पुलिस इन्हें पकङ कर ले जाती है। लोगों को पता तक नहीं होता कि उन्हें किस अपराध के लिए गिरफ्तार किया जा रहा है। ये लोग मैप और खिलौने बेचकर, कान साफ करके पैसे कमाते हैं। आमदनी इतनी नहीं होती कि वे ठीक से एक समय भी परिवार के साथ खाना खा सकें। फिर शिक्षा, स्वासथ्य…
छोटे बच्चे जिन्हें स्कूल जाना चाहिए वे बूट – पालिश के लिए जाते हैं। जीवन की मूलभूत आवश्यकताओँ से वंचित ये लोग गन्दगी में जीने को मजबूर हैं। चालीस साल से ये लोग यहाँ रह रहे थे और अचानक एक दिन म्युनिसिपाल्टी को यह ज़मीन अवैध दिखने लगी। 1972 में तत्कालीन सरकार ने इन लोगों को वचन दिया था कि यहाँ किसी प्रकार का निर्माण कार्य होने पर उन्हें कहीं और ज़मीन दी जाएगी। लेकिन ऐसा कुछ भी नहीं हुआ। बिना किसी पूर्व सूचना के उनके घर तोङे गए और कई बार म्युनिसिपाल्टी वाले उनका सामान उठाकर ले गए।
मार्च 22, 2006 इन लोगों ने डा0 गणेश देवी के नेतृत्व में म्युनिसिपाल्टी कमिश्नर के ऑफिस के सामने भूख हङताल की। तब कमिश्नर अनिल मुकीम ने यह वादा किया था कि इन लोगों को ज़मीन दी जाएगी और जब तक ज़मीन नहीं दी जाती, म्युनिसिपाल्टी वहाँ कोई तोङ फोङ नही करेगी।
समय बीता, अफसर बदले और म्युनिसिपाल्टी अपना वादा भूल गई। फरवरी 8, 2007 को मणीनगर बस्ती को फिर से तोङा गया।
आखिर म्युनिसिपाल्टी उन्हें हटाना क्यों चाहती है। जिस सङक के किनारे ये लोग रहते हैं उसका आवागमन के लिए ज्यादा उपयोग नहीं होता क्योंकि लगभग सभी गाङियाँ ओवरब्रिज का प्रयोग करती हैं। फिर सरकार को इस सङक की ऐसी क्या ज़रूरत है। इसका उत्तर छिपा है मध्यमवर्गीय संकुचित मानसिकता में। जब भी यह मध्यम वर्ग आँखों में उच्चवर्ग का सपना लिए घर से निकलता है और सामने इन गरीबो को पाता है तो उसका सपना तिलमिला उठता है। वह इससे मुक्ति चाहता है और इसका सबसे आसान तरीका है – ऐसे गरीब लोगो को ही हटा दिया जाए। चाहे उनके पास रहने को घर नहीं हो, चाहे उनके बच्चे भूख और गर्मी से मर जाए। लेकिन इन्हें साफ सडक चाहिए।
1997 से घर टूटते आ रहे हैं। कई बच्चे गर्मी लगने से मर चुके हैं। लेकिन यह बातें कोई मायने नहीं रखती। शुरू से ऐसा हीं होता आया है और कुछ बातें बिल्कुल नहीं बदलती।
Who Are DNTs ?
Barely two months ago, on October 22, three Shabars were dragged out of their homes and heavily stoned in a paddy field of Bengal. One died, and two were seriously injured. When their women ran to file a complaint in the police station, the Officer in Charge refused to record their eye-witness evidence. Instead, he filed a case against the dead Shabar! “This goes on all the time”, says Mahashweta Devi.
Denotified tribes are the tribes that were originally listed under the Criminal Tribes Act in 1871, as “addicted to the systematic commission of non-bailable offences.” Once a tribe is “notified” as criminal, all its members were required to register with the local magistrate, failing which they would be charged with a crime under the Indian Penal Code.
The Criminal Tribes Act of 1952 repealed the notification, i.e. ‘de-notified’ – the tribal communities. This act was however replaced by a series of Habitual Offenders Acts, which asked police to investigate a suspect’s criminal tendencies and whether his occupation is “conducive to settled way of life.” The Denotified Tribes (DNTs) were reclassified as habitual offenders in 1959.
The conception of these groups goes back to the pre independence period and can be reviewed in the context of colonialism. The British authorities listed them separating by creating a category of criminal castes or tribes. Most of the people from these tribes came from the states, which were at war against the British administration. People from these groups were supporting armies of the regional kingdoms against the Brutish rule. The British decided to solve their law and order problems and consolidate their hold over the Indian countryside by forming the Criminal Tribes Act in 1871. The term tribe was used, in colonial context under the notion of primitiveness and backwardness and hence they (the tribal) need to be civilized or transformed.
This tag of criminal tribe reinforced the chain of prejudices of the public at large. The criminal label was enough to close the doors to employment and proper education. This left DNTs socially and economically far behind most of the other Indian communities. The government abolished the habitual offenders act in early 1990. But no significant action has been taken to improve the condition of people belonging to these tribes. The government has recently formed the DNT Commission and the TAG (Technical Advisory Group). The committee has been asked to submit a report on the Denotified tribes listing the problems and recommendations from different committee members to work out the problems. The TAG would be giving a presentation to our Prime Minister very soon. The initiatives taken by the government and the social groups present a ray of hope in the future.
Right to Information Act, 2005
Introduction
The Right to Information Act received the approval of the President on June 15, 2005. This act has been introduced to provide the citizens of this country, with a system or a method using which they can access the information under the control of the public authorities. This act has been introduced to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.
All the citizens of this country have right to information. They have a right to:
- inspect work, documents, records
- take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records
- take certified samples of material
- obtain information in the form of discs, floppies, tapes, video, cassettes or in any electronic mode or through printouts where the information is stored in a computer or in any other device
In simple words, any citizen of this country has a right to take notes, inspect the work or documents, take samples of material and obtain information in any electronic form; from the public authority.
Responsibilities of the Public Authorities
According to RTI Act, every public authority should maintain its records, properly catalogued and indexed. It should computerize all the records which should be computerized. It should also make these documents or records available to the citizens of this country through a network.
Any public authority must publish the following information about itself:
- the particulars of its organization, functions and duties;
- the powers and duties of its officers and employees;
- the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;
- the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions;
- the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals, and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;
- a statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control;
- the particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;
- a statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advise, and as to whether meetings of those boards, etc. are open to public or the minutes of such meetings are available to public;
- a directory of its officers and employees;
- the monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations.
- the budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made
- the manner of execution of subsidy programs, including the amounts allocated and the details of the beneficiaries of such programs
- the particulars of receipts of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it
- details of the information available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form
- the particulars of facilities available to the citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use
- the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers
- such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year
Along with the above mentioned points, every public authority must publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect public. It should also provide reasons for its administrative or quasi – judicial decisions to the people who are affected by these decisions.
It is the duty of every public authority to provide people with the above mentioned information. The public authorities should publish this information regularly through the Internet or such other means to make this information easily available to the maximum number of people. The public authorities should also consider the cost effectiveness, local language and the most effective method of communication in a particular area so that the information is available to the maximum number of people living in that area at a very low cost.
The Public Information Officers
Every public authority has to designate as many officers as the Central or State Public Information Officers (PIOs) in all the administrative units or offices under it, as may be necessary to provide information to persons requesting for information under this Act. Also, it has to designate the Central and State Assistant PIOs at each sub – divisional and sub – district level, to receive applications for information for forwarding the same to the Central or State PIOs.
It is the duty of the Central and State PIO to assist the person seeking any information. The Central or State PIO may seek the assistance of any other officer in its own or other department to provide information to the person who has asked for the information. Any officer, whose assistance has been sought, is required to assist the Central or State PIO.
If the information seeker submits the application to a wrong department (which does not have the required information), it is the duty of the PIO to forward the application to the correct or required department.
Getting Information Using RTI Act – The Procedure
According to RTI Act, any person who wants to obtain any information under this Act can send an application mentioning the information required, to the Central or State PIO or to the Assistant Central or State PIO. The application can be written by hand or can be written using any electronic means in Hindi or English or in the official language of the area in which the application is being submitted. The person asking for particular information is also required to pay the prescribed fee along with the application. The fee is different for different departments and states. Generally, the fee is between Rs. 10 to Rs. 25. The format of application varies from state to state. Some states have a particular format for these applications; others accept it on a plain sheet of paper.
If the person seeking information is not able to make the request in writing, it is the duty of the PIO to assist that person in reducing the request in writing. The person seeking information is not required to mention the reason for requesting the information. He is also not required to give any personal details except those that are necessary to contact him.
If the information which the information seeker has asked for, is not with the PIO but is with the PIO of some other department, it is his responsibility to forward the application to the appropriate PIO. This transfer of application must be done within five days from the date of receipt of the application. It is the duty of the PIO to inform the person seeking information about such a transfer immediately.
Response from the Public Information Officer
On receipt of a request under this Act, the Central or State PIO must provide the information to the applicant as soon as possible. The time for providing the same must not exceed 30 days. If the request or the application is not according to the format or the applicant has not paid the prescribed fee, the request may be rejected by the PIO. The application may be rejected for a number of reasons which will be mentioned later in this document. The decision of either providing information or rejecting it must be taken by the PIO within 30 days of receipt of the application. In case of rejection of application, the applicant must be informed about the same within 30 days of the receipt of the request. The PIO must give the reason for the rejection and he must also give all the information regarding the appeal which can be made against the rejection. In particular, the PIO must give the period within which the appeal can be made and the particulars of the authority which should be consulted for the same.
If the information required concerns life and liberty of a person, it must be provided within 48 hours of the receipt of the request. If the PIO fails to give a decision on the request for information within the above mentioned time, the PIO should be deemed to have refused the request.
If the applicant is required to pay any further fee, he/she must be informed by the PIO about the same. The details of the fee being charged must also be provided to the applicant. The PIO must request the applicant to deposit that fee. The period of making the request and intimating the applicant must be excluded from the above mentioned period of 30 days. When the information is to be provided in electronic format, the applicant has to pay the prescribed fee for the same. The fee charged in this case must be reasonable and must not be charged from the people who are below poverty line.
The PIO must also provide all information about the rights of the applicant to review the decision taken regarding the amount of the fee charged or the form of access provided including the particulars of the authorities involved and the time limit or the process of the same. In case, the person seeking information is sensorily disabled, the PIO should assist that person to enable access to the information.
If the PIO is unable to follow the time limits, the information must be provided free of cost. Any information must be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it is not possible for the authorities to provide information in such form.
Exemption from Disclosure of Information
Any citizen of India can ask for any information from a public authority except a few which are as follows:
- information which may affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to encouragement of an offence;
- information which has been forbidden to be published by any court or law;
- information which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature;
- information which includes commercial confidence and any trade secrets, the disclosure of which might harm the interests of the third party;
- information available to a person in a fiduciary (relating to the responsibility to look after someone else’s money in a correct way) relationship;
- information received in confidence from foreign Government;
- information which might endanger the life or physical safety of any person or discloses any information given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes;
- information which would obstruct the process of investigation or prosecution or apprehension of offenders;
- cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers. The information regarding the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers with the reasons for the decisions must be made public after the decision has been taken and the matter is over;
- information which might disclose the personal information of any individual. This information can be provided if the PIOs feel that the disclosure of the information is beneficial for the public. Also the information which is made available to the Parliament or State Legislature must not be denied to any person;
In any case, including the exemptions, if the disclosure of the information is beneficial for the public, the PIO can allow the access to the information. The Central or State PIO can reject the application if it involves violation of copyright.
In case, the access to particular information is denied due to the above mentioned reasons, access to a part of information may be provided. In such a case when access to a part of information is provided, the PIO must inform the applicant:
- that only a part of the record requested is being provided;
- the reasons for the decision (including all the details of the decision making process);
- the name and designation of the person giving decision;
- the details of the fee prescribed;
- about his/her rights with respect to review of the decision, the amount of the fee, particulars of the senior officers who can be consulted, time limit, and any other information.
The Third Party Information
A Third Party means a person other than the applicant and includes a public authority. If the PIO intends to disclose the information related to the Third Party (which is confidential), the PIO must inform the Third Party within five days from the receipt of the request that he/she is going to disclose the information or a part of it. The PIO should invite the Third Party to make a submission in writing or orally, regarding whether the information should be disclosed. A statement saying that the Third Party may appeal against the decision taken by the PIO must be included in the notice which is given to the Third Party by the PIO. In case of trade or commercial secrets protected by law, the PIO may disclose the information if it is beneficial for the public. The Third Party must respond back within ten days of the receipt of the notice of the PIO. The PIO must decide whether to disclose the information or not within 40 days of receipt of the application when the Third Party is involved.
References
