Non-functioning of web-portal of Odisha Government for submission of RTI application / Appeal online.
2. Even if it functions, per chance, printed copy of submitted application/ appeal alongwith voter ID is called for, which defeats very purpose of online submission.
Govt. of Odisha Web-Portal - http://rtiodisha.in/
This is the web-portal of Government of Odisha. There is no provision to ‘log-in’ nor is it user-specific. In strict sense, this is not a web portal.
The portal is not functioning even after 12 years of implementation of The RTI Act, 2005. The mal-functioning area is uploading of the RTI Application File. One cannot proceed further if he/she fails to upload the RTI application. If by chance the file could be uploaded, payment gateway problem will obstruct payment of application fee.
I failed to submit My RTI application online in most of my attempts, excepting for a couple of times only. But the terms and conditions, as below, dissuaded me to use the portal.
TERMS & CONDITIONS DEFEATING THE PURPOSE OF ONLINE SUBMISSION OF RTI REQUEST
As per the terms and conditions, “Applicant has to print out and submit the hard copy of the same application with full signature manually or by post. After acceptance of the hard copy of RTI application by the PIO, the time-frame prescribed under the Act shall be applicable.” Therefore the entire exercise of submission of RTI Application is waste of time.
Further, if somebody, by chance (which is very rare), can submit application and pay application fee of Rs.10/- online, then he/she will come across the following NOTE which remind him/her of the above condition.
“Please print out the filled up application and make payment (if not Made) and attach e-payment evidence of original copy of manual payment having ink signature at the print out copy and submit to your concerned Public Authority manually (physically or by post). After acceptance of the hard copy of RTI application & all your documents by the PIO, the time-frame prescribed under the Act shall be applicable.”
To fulfill the said condition the applicant has to bear the cost for (1) printing (2) postage, (3) Conveyance expenses for going to a cyber café for printing (4) Conveyance expenses for going to post office or to the office of the Public Authority. In addition the efforts for submission of hard copy of the RTI request are unnecessary botheration.
It is also stipulated in the terms and conditions: “Both General/BPL categories applicant should submit photo Copy of ID proof”. This is against Section 6(2) of RTI Act,2005. This proves the extent of harassment to public.
Publicity of tall claims of Government on RTI portal
Government of Odisha claim in the web-page: “This option helps a citizen to submit his/her e-Request for information (RTI Application Form A) through online in a single net work system (rtiodisha.in), which is treated citizen centric”
Of late in daily news paper “Prameya” there are news items on 23-1-2018 and 31-1-2018 about work-shop on Right to Information held at Jatni and Balipatna Block Offices respectively of Khordha districts. The clippings of the news are attached. These workshops were organized by the District Information & PR Officer. The main theme highlighted in the news items is about use of the web-portal for online submission of RTI Application. The news is silent about non-functioning of the portal and unnecessary stipulation for submission of hard copy again. It is not clear from the news if the web portal was demonstrated in the work-shop by means of computer with internet facility and explained step by step about entering the necessary information, uploading of RTI Application and online payment of money. Simple direction to the audience to take advantage of RTI portal and making a news on this is meaningless. The esteemed “Prameya” news paper should elaborate on the mal-functioning of the web-portal and need for removing the stipulation for submission of hard copy after online submission of RTI application.
Some of the activists have been taking up the matter with I & PR Department and with the State Information Commission for making the portal functional and not to ask for re-submission of hard copy of the same RTI application. I have also taken up the matter several times and lodged grievances. In one of the letters vide No.IMU (RTI) 102/17 – 7007 dated 8-8-2017, in response to my e-abhijog CMOFF/E/2017/01647 dated 26-6-2017 (copy attached) I was informed:
“Odisha is one of the front ranking states in the Country for introducing IT Intervention in the front of RTI. The Government carries a track record of winning National e-Governance award in this regard. The process of Online RTI Application has been conceptualized taking into the conditions of the state into account. However we sincerely appreciate your point of view as quite critical to move further in this regard. Once again congratulating you for this healthy feedback, the Department is quite open to receive your suggestions time and again to improve our functioning in a more effective manner.”
I cannot rejoice with such compliments, unless and until the web-portal functions properly and there should not be any condition to submit hard copy of already submitted request.
GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA WEB-PORTAL IS DEFAUNCT WHEREAS THAT OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA https://rtionline.gov.in/ FUNCTIONS VERY WELL
Those who are using Government of India portal must have experienced the ease of submission of request and 1st appeal. While for the request a fee of Rs.10/- is payable online, there is no fee for 1st or second appeal. There is no need to attach voter ID or any other ID. There is no need to send hard copy of the submitted request or appeal. The portal keeps a record of all applications, appeals only for viewing and use of the applicant/appellant.
The authorities of Government of Odisha are neglecting the Right to Information. No priority is attached to such citizen centric need. While a lot of money is spent on publicity, there is not a single hoarding about RTI nor there is a single quarter-page publicity on guidance to public about their Right. Till date the State Government of Odisha ignore the Peoples Right to Information.
OTHER STATE ACTIVISTS, WHO ARE READING THIS, MAY ENLIGHTEN ABOUT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE RTI WEB-PORTL OF THEIR STATE.
DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT OF THE WEB-PORTAL
The job of online filing of RTI applications and First Appeals and keeping track of the same was entrusted to M/s Luminous Infoways Pvt. Ltd. way back in 2009 vide agreement/MOU dated 4-5-2009 signed by Director of I & PR Department with the Company authority for a validity period of 3 years. The conditions of MOU included: “if the agency fails to deliver the service committed within the reasonable stipulated time assigned by the Client (i.e. the Government) penalty would be levied upto 25% of Annual Project Cost alongwith the cancellation of the MOU.” Neither the web-portal could be successfully developed nor any penalty was levied nor was any official made accountable. The MOU was also not cancelled. On the contrary another MOU was signed on 29-6-2015 between the I & pr Department and the Company basing on the e-tendering process of August 2012 ( EOI published on 2-8-2012 and bids opened on 28-8-12) when M/s Luminous Infoway Pvt. Ltd. could be the successful bidder. The work order No.10073 dated 14-9-2012 was placed with the Company after 2 years from the date of opening of bids.
In the office notes, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary has mentioned on 11-12-14 : “The Government may kindly approve the proposal to implement ‘online monitoring of RTI application’ with effect from 1st January 2015”. Concurrences of the Chief Secretary, Minister, I & PR Department and Hon’ble Chief Minister have been obtained to the noting.
Odisha Information Commission vide their letter No.8356/OIC dated 17-11-2015 – PIO-323/15, have informed me that the RTI portal was not fully functional. They had sent my RTI application dated 29-10-15 to I & PR Deptt with a copy to me under Memo No.8160/OIC dated 6-11-15. Till date I do not appear to have received any reply from them. I have lodged complaint with the Commission.
The FIGHT of the common people for their R I G H T never ends.
Bhawani Sankar Nanda
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