BMC appoints 28 public info officers
The BMC has issued a circular and appointed 28 public information officers (PIOs) with immediate effect. While 10 PIOs would serve as deputy municipal secretaries, 17 are assistant municipal secretaries and one is the mayor’s personal assistant.
Earlier, there was only one PIO in the municipal secretary department and the applicant had to go to the BMC headquarters and approach him. Apart from that, the assistant municipal secretaries had no power to furnish information. This provision has been made seeking information at the ward level easier.
Anil Galgali, an activist who got this information through RTI, has welcomed the decision and said that it is an outcome of the constant follow-up with the BMC administration for the last three years. “Now, every applicant would get information easily and within the stipulated time,” he said. He added, “ These PIOs can now furnish information related to the mayor, Opposition leader, leader of the House,
chairman of different
committees like standing, education, improvement and others at the ward level.”
Satisfied with the provision, a senior officer working at the BMC headquarter said, “It will give the common people an opportunity to keep a watch not only on public representatives but also on officers such as assistant municipal commissioners across 25 wards.”
However, the department has not disclosed the names of the newly-appointed PIOs and their appellate officers. “I have demanded that the municipal secretary disclose their details for the convenience of the information seekers,” said Mr Galgali.
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