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‘Streamline data storage system’

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa needs to strengthen its information infrastructure and streamline data storage system through computerisation for speedier and proper implementation of Right To Information Act in the State, said the outgoing information commissioner Professor Radhamohan.

Sharing his experience as the member in the State Information Commission (SIC), Prof. Radhamohan told The Hindu that mindsets of bureaucracy needed to be changed and people should be made aware about their rights to taste the success of this revolutionary act.

Prof. Radhamohan is scheduled to retire from his post on January 30 up on his attaining 65 years of age.

“The task was daunting. Behind the scene, all corrupt practices were earlier going on. All was depending on whims of top bureaucrats. After the RTI Act, the style of functioning practiced before is no more possible,” he said here on Sunday. Cobwebs in the thinking process of officials who were responsible for providing information still existed and they needed training to do away with it, Prof Radhamohan said. Describing challenges faced by SIC, he said many people were yet to be aware of existence of such an act while fear of bureaucracy still ruled on minds of people. “The commission will organise awareness programmes in all 30 districts in the next financial year,” he said.

Prof. Radhamohan was of the view that SIC was understaffed. “At least three benches (six members) are needed to dispose off cases being piled up every day.” The commission is now burdened with more than 3,000 cases while it has been able to clear 40 per cent of cases. The SIC is likely to face more problem as it will be left with one member after his retirement. Significantly, Prof. Radhamohan felt that though a senior bureaucrat was chosen to head SIC initially which was necessary for mobilising administrative machinery to set up the institution, from here after people with proven integrity should be given responsibility to implement RTI act.

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