Attempting to save both time and resources, the Central Railway has introduced e-RTI facility to dispose of the written RTI applications submitted to their departments.
Under this facility, all RTI applications will be uploaded online so that all 27 public information officers (PIOs) can view it. Every department has a PIO to whom RTI applications can be submitted.
“All the applications will be uploaded online and the PIOs will be able to view them. The PIOs can then answer the questions pertaining to their department. The application can also be tracked online,” said V.A. Malegaonkar, chief public relations officer of the CR adding, “This will ensure faster disposal of cases and accountability in the functioning of the departments.”
According to CR sources, at present it takes time to submit the reply, as the application is passed from one department to another. However, with this new facility, all the PIOs can view the application online and reply to the queries. The officials said that the facility will also improve monitoring of cases and reduce paperwork.
The e-RTI facility was put in place because of the rise in the number of RTI applications filed for the CR in the last few years. During 2011-12, the CR has dealt with 8,147 initial applications, 1,344 first appeals and 175 second appeals.
The e-RTI facility will be introduced for all the divisions and departments on the CR. The CR had also sent its core team dealing with RTI queries for training at the Institute of Public Administration in Bengaluru. The CR is also publishing an in-house magazine called Prabhod-ini, which is exclusively dedicated to RTI issues.