Now get information online

Expressbuzz, Dec 6, 2009
BHUBHANESWAR: From now on, one would not have to go to the different offices or Government departments to seek and obtain information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Log on to www.rtiorissa.gov.in to access different departments and wings of the Government, file RTI applications and receive the response.  The RTI portal developed by the Information and Public Relation Department and the State Information Commission in association with Luminous Infoways was inaugurated by Chief Information Commissioner DN Padhi here. The portal seeks to present a clear picture on the Government departments and organisations and intends to effect transparency and accountability in the system of Governance, he said.  As per the Section 4 (1) A of the RTI Act every Government department or organisation would have to make available all information through computer network, display board and maintain registers for public.  Every department and their subordinate offices would be linked up in the network through a software christened Lok Soochana and provided with individual IDs and passwords for uploading information. Till now about 600 departments and Government organisations have been linked up with individual IDs. Besides, providing comprehensive information on their organisation and activities, the network would enable each parent department to monitor if their subordinate offices were implementing RTI properly. The departments and PSUs would also have to publish their annual reports and compliances with the cases on the portal.  The citizen would just have to visit the portal to fill the form for application and submit his query and preferences on the mode of receiving response. They can also file cases in the Commission’s appeal section against violations.  The I&PR Department being the nodal agency would also be able to monitor the RTI implementation by the other wings of the Government and report to the CIC.