Only 33 pc urban Indians know about RTI: Chavan

Stating that only 33 per cent of the urban population knew about the Right to Information Act,the government on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha...

Stating that only 33 per cent of the urban population knew about the Right to Information Act,the government on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that steps were afoot to increase awareness about the law.

Government instituted a study in 2009 which found that awareness level about the RTI Act is low. Only 33 per cent of people in urban areas were aware of the Act till 2008-09,Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office Prithviraj Chavan said in response to a question by SPs Ghanshyam Anuragi during Question Hour

The government,Chavan said,was taking steps to increase awareness among people through radio,television and other media. Besides,more Assistant Public Information Officers were being appointed,including in post offices,to make RTI more accessible to people,he added.

On the recent killings of RTI activists,Chavan said the Centre had written to chief ministers to provide protection to activists whenever they sought it. The government is also working on further strengthening and expanding scope of the RTI Act. An Act would also be introduced to protect whistleblowers.

On complaints that the RTI Act was not being implemented properly,Chavan said it was being implemented by the Centre as well as the states. We are providing information that we maintain at the Centre.The five lakh applications that we have disposed of with 95 per cent favourable disposal pertain only to the Central government information, Chavan said,adding that states had to implement the law as per the statute formulated by the Centre.

Asked if the Act had helped reduce corruption,Chavan said,There is no specific study that we have carried out to assess the impact of the Act on reducing corruption because it is very difficult.

Replying to a question by BJPs Ramesh Bais about options available to an RTI applicant if officials do not provide information,Chavan said that under Section 19 of the Act,there was a provision for penalty which may be imposed by the State Information Commission or the Central Information Commission if the information is not given within a specified period. This is being implemented,people are being punished if the information is not given in time, he said.