The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BWSSB among most citizen-friendly agencies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 05, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BWSSB among most citizen-friendly agencies

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, SEPT. 4. Those topping the list of government agencies responding most positively and proactively to citizens' queries under the Karnataka Right to Information Act include the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the departments of Legal Metrology and Consumer Affairs.

BMP improving

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike is steadily improving in its responses and the Transport Department has become "good." Those with a "negative or poor response" include the departments of Forests and Horticulture. The former is reluctant to furnish even basic information like the number of trees in Bangalore.

These findings of the city-based consumer rights NGO, Grahak Shakti, were revealed by its managing trustee, V. Somashekar, at a symposium on `Making the Right to Information Work in Karnataka' organised by a group of civil society organisations. An organisation to coordinate the work of citizens' groups active in making the legislation work, Kria Katte, was also launched on the occasion.

Mindset

"While many departments are cooperative they don't always provide the most needed information. Many officials are friendly and courteous but believe they can get away with glib talk. Both officials and citizens have to change their mindset. Since much of the information sought will be of a general nature, government agencies can publish a list of FAQs and answers," Mr. Somashekar suggested.

Anuradha Rao of the Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore, said the NGO had conducted a "field assessment" of 100 applications made under the law over the past two years and found there were 24 responses. One official did not accept the applications at all and in 18 cases appeals had to be filed. Only two of the 20 government agencies had informed citizens of their right to information on their notice boards and in many departments, the 15-day time limit to provide information was not followed.

"After a public hearing held in May to which government officials were also invited, many departments became more cooperative. The BMP went to the extent of conducting a workshop on the Act for its employees just before the public hearing," she said.

Study

The PAC study showed 75 per cent responses by BWSSB, 50 per cent by BESCOM, 41 per cent by BMP, and 33 per cent by the Transport Department. Overall in 40.4 per cent cases, the relevant information was provided.

M.C. Poonacha, Under Secretary, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, which oversees implementation of the Right to Information Act, said close to 5,000 government officers in the State had been already trained in responding to citizens' queries, and training to panchayat raj personnel was being taken up. "Notices have been sent to even senior officials on appeals from citizens and in a recent case notices were issued to two Revenue Department officials for furnishing wrong information," he said.

The question of levying a penalty on officials not responding or giving wrong information was being considered, he added.

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