To the chief Information Commissioner.

Please provide me with below information.

1. Does your state have a web portal supporting the spirit of Right to Information Act. Similar and at least providing the same functionality as https://RTIOnline.gov.in where

- Any Citizen of India can go online and file RTI appeal to Information Commission or any of the administrative unit's SPIOs electronically and get an RTI tracking ticket similar to RTIOnline.gov.in.

- Pay the prescribed fee online using Net Banking, Credit Cards.

- Track the status online and get the response on the online portal electronically.

- File First and Second appeal in case RTI response is not satisfactory electronically using the same portal.

2. If answer to query #1 is Yes for all the points, please provide the web portal name.

3. If Answer to all or any of the Query #1 is No.

                a).Please provide details on why even after 10 years of RTI Act in place and after multiple years of RTIOnline.gov.in online and working as a benchmark developed by NIC for central  government ministries (NIC or similar agencies manages all your state web portals as well)  your state is not able to provide this service.

                b.) If you have already planned for a similar or better service than RTIOnline.gov.in to serve RTI  needs for your state please provide the expected time frame when Citizens of India can start using it.

The Above RTI is for public purpose.

Response 

We got the response as below in approx. 6 weeks :

" This office has received your RTI application dtd.13/06/2015 made under Right to lnformation Act, 2005 on 14/07/2015.

ln this regards it is to intimat that the information sought by you is not related to this office. lt is related to lnformation and Technology Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai-400032. Hence, your RTI application, in original, is being transferred to state public Information officer, lnformation and Technology Department, Mantralaya, Madam Cama Road, Hutatma Rajguru chowk, Mumbai-400 032 under section 6 (3) of the RTlAct, 2005. you are, therefore,requested to make further correspondence and follow-up to the said department directly. "

Our observations on the RTI response are:

1. The RTI was responded to in exactly a month's time, which is generally considered acceptable in case of RTI applications. However,  add to this the time required for postal delivery (and delays) and this response time bloats further. Not to mention the extra efforts  and paper usage, along with frustration on the part of applicant (waiting for long periods of time for a simple piece information )

2.  Things get more complicated if the RTI is further transferred to another department (as have happened in the above case) The whole cycle of physical mails, corresponding delays and waiting times start again.

 It has been more than a month since our RTI was transferred, and we still haven't heard from the lnformation and Technology Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai - the department to which out RTI Application was transferred. We will, of course be obliged to follow up , but this again would mean unnecessary usage of  time,effort and paper resource.

3. So, effectively after more than 2.5 months of filing an RTI (asking very simpler questions) and considerable usage of resources - We still have nothing to show.

All of these wastage and inefficiencies would have been avoided if the RTI application facility for Maharashtra  was available online.

Reasons we are working towards fixing this issue:- 

The details are in this thread. but briefly.

- A manual effort is a big barrier for a common man to seek information on any in-efficiency, corruption, violation in his/her community.

- Apart from being a barrier, it in-efficient wasting a lot of time of information giving agency and seeker.

- There are plenty of loopholes which can be used to suppress, deflect or deny the information.

-Its error prone and any redress, since tedious is pushing citizens in a state of defeated apathy.

-Digitizing the effort will not only make the process seamless but open opportunities to improve the process and streamline the feedback loop.

- Will minimize misuse from the information giver and seeker.

- Save taxpayers some scarce money.

- An informed citizen would be less prone to propaganda machinery and an active collaboration will bring down cost to development.

Our Aim -

Is to bring efficiency, accountability and transparency in the state RTI system by  having all the states on board rti.gov.in or a similar platform working with efficiency similar to existing service by central government.

Status -

The research on the status of RTI for Maharashtra is complete and till the date (September 2016) there is no online, consistent facility to file an Right to Information to the state of Maharashtra.

Future course of action -

To carry this effort forward we are looking for coordinators in Maharashtra, who can work towards a transparent state of Maharashtra with our team.

Who can be a coordinator -

 Any one with a zeal to improve communities using a non confrontational approach, ready to collaborate with multiple entities and is systematic and patient. A working professional, An activist, A politician, researcher, a housewife, a student. All he/she needs is an inclination for scientific ways, curious, respect and honor, and of course a few hours a week.

Are Coordinators Funded for their efforts?

Yes. BallotboxIndia is about bringing back the culture of detailed deliberations and research. We follow a tedious systematic approach and are actions and output based. To sustain such efforts the time and efforts spent has to be valued and incentivized.

I can't add value for this particular effort but been active for common good or want to work for better communities ?

Send in your details to innovators@ballotboxindia.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks 

Team @BallotboxIndia