Bihar first state to introduce RTI through call centre

Patna, Jan 29 (UNI) Bihar has become the first state in the country where Right To Information Act (RTI) is introduced through call centre.

Inaugurating the ''Jaankari'' (Information) scheme, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said here at anyone could get the desired information through the call centre on a particular telephone number 155311.

He said it will prepare the application and forward it to the concerned department and the information would be given to the person within 31 days.

He said there is a provision for first and second appeal in case the person remains dissatisfied or in case of any delay. He said accountibility would be fixed for the delay and the related personnel would be penalised and punished.

Mr Kumar said the call centre would be a powerful tool and if utilised properly the people would realise its importance as it would help check corruption, red tapism and negligence of duty.

He stressed the need for imparting training to the persons engaged at the call centre and those associated with providing information and said the concerned authorities will have to provide entire information maintaining full transparency.

Mr Kumar said the innovative introduction of call centre on one hand would streamline the administration, while on the other it will give required information to the people giving them respite from their problems.

He appealed to the aothorities to properly execute the Jaankari scheme and assured to introduce all updated and most modern technologies here. The call centre is presently linked with the lines of BSNL, he said and asked the Telcom minister for its expansion to other connections.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the authorities will have to change their mindset and provide information instead of concealing them.

Chief Information Commission Justice Sheshanak Kumar Singh dubbed the facility as ''information at the doorstep'', saying it would prove to be a milestone in the development of the state. He stressed the need for tightening the administration and imparting training to those engaged in providing information.

The scheme would make a corruption-free society, he said adding that special camps should be organised up to block and panchayat levels for apprising the people of the new scheme.

UNI