More awareness of RTI Act mooted

Raipur, Jun 26 (UNI) Chhattisgarh's Commissioner (Information) A K Vijayvargiya has said that there should be more awareness regarding the Right to Information Act and it should be properly implemented.

At an officers' meeting in Mantralaya yesterday, he said, ''more than two-and-a-half years have passed since the enactment but implementation was not as per expectation. There is need for change in officials' approach. Every department should maintain records properly and in computerised form as far as possible.'' Mentioning that departmental manuals and other essential information should be on departmental websites and periodically updated, Mr Vijayvargiya added that all public information officers and appeal officers should be covered under training.

''The official concerned may be fined if the applicant is not provided the information in 30 days or -- in some special cases -- 45 days of submitting the application. The Culture Department should propagate the RTI Act through folk art,'' the Commissioner added.

UNI AS-AC CS RAI2125