Incentive Scheme for Self-Learning of RTI Act for Officers and Staff

 

Article

Incentive Scheme for Self-Learning of RTI Act for Officers and Staff 

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Shri Veerappa Moily in its first Report “Right to Information Master Key to Good Governance” observed that the Right to Information Act is a path-breaking legislation which signals the march from darkness of secrecy to dawn of transparency. It lights up the mindset of public authorities, which is clouded by suspicion and secrecy. Openness in the exercise of public power – Executive, Legislative or Judiciary – is a culture, which needs to be nurtured, with privacy and confidentiality being an exception. The right to information will also be a powerful means for fighting corruption. The effective implementation of the Right to Information Act will create an environment of vigilance which will help promote functioning of a more participatory democracy. 

The Commission recommended in June, 2006 for Capacity Building and Awareness Generation. It recommends that the Government should provide training in RTI to all its officers and staff.  The recommendation reads as under: 

“Capacity Building and Awareness Generation (Para 5.5.5.):

a. Training programmes should not be confined to merely PIOs and APIOs. All government functionaries should be imparted at least one day training on Right to Information within a year. These training programmes have to be organized in a decentralized manner in every block. A cascading model could be adopted with a batch of master trainers in each district.

b. In all general or specialized training programmes, of more than 3 days duration, a half-day module on Right to Information should be compulsory.

c. Awareness campaigns should be entrusted to credible nonprofit organizations at the State level. They should design a multimedia campaign best suited to the needs, in the local language. The funds earmarked could be utilized for this purpose.

d. Appropriate governments should bring out guides and comprehensible information material within the prescribed time.” 

Section 26 of the RTI Act also provides that the Government should develop and organize educational programmes to advance the understanding of the public, in particular all disadvantage communities as to how to exercise the right contemplated under the RTI Act.  It also requires encouraging the public authorities to participate in the development and organisation of such programmes and to undertake such programmes themselves. Section 26 of the Act reads as under: 

“26. (1) The appropriate Government may, to the extent of availability of financial and other resources,—

(a) develop and organize educational programmes to advance the understanding of the public, in particular of disadvantaged communities as to how to exercise the rights contemplated under this Act;

(b) encourage public authorities to participate in the development and organisation of programmes referred to in clause (a) and to undertake such programmes themselves;

(c) promote timely and effective dissemination of accurate information by public authorities about their activities; and

(d) train Central Public Information Officers or State Public Information Officers, as the case may be, of public authorities and produce relevant training materials for use by the public authorities themselves.”

 

Need for adoption of new Innovation: Imparting training to lakhs of officials being a gigantic work could not be accomplished in a short time.  The Public Authorities under Government of Delhi are having nearly 2 lakh employees who need to be provided training about the provisions of RTI Act.  This meant that the Government should be able to train thousands of persons every month to accomplish the task in a time bound manner, which was administratively not viable.  

As such it was decided to introduce some new concept to encourage the employees for “Self-learning of RTI Act 2005” with cash incentive. Accordingly a scheme of self-learning was devised by Administrative Reforms Department in 2010 with the approval of the Finance and Planning Departments. (Prior to this a similar scheme was introduced to implement the “Manual of Office Procedure” in 1991 which not only boosted the morale of the employees but also brought good results. It is still in vogue and annual MOP comprehension Tests are conducted in which both officers and staff members can participate).  

Details of the new Practice: Under this incentive scheme the officers and staff members can learn the provisions of RTI Act on their own and participate in the Annual Comprehension Test conducted by the Administrative Reforms Department.  All staff members viz LDCs, UDCs, Assistants, Superintendents, Officers and their equivalent, working in the Government of Delhi and its subordinate offices/undertakings/autonomous bodies and local bodies can appear in the test. 

Cash Award Scheme: The test is voluntary where participants get Merit Certificate and cash awards according to their performances in the test, on the following pattern: 

Slab of Marks Obtained                                                    Amount of Prize (Rs)

80% and above                                                                    1,500/-

70% to 79%                                                                           1,000/-

60% to 69%                                                                              800/-

50% to 59%                                                                              600/-

40% to 49%*                                                                            400/-

·         This slab has now been omitted 

The incumbents who secure the first three positions by securing 80% and above marks in the respective categories viz. LDC; UDC & Assistant; and Superintendent & Officers are also given an additional cash award of Rs1,500/- for standing first, Rs. 1,000/- for standing second and Rs. 500/- for standing third, in their respective categories in addition to the above cash prize, 

Wide publicity is given to this test, so that maximum number of officers/ employees could participate in the test. Applications from desirous candidates are invited by the Administrative Reforms Department in the month of April in the prescribed proforma which can be sent by 31st July, 2013.   The test is usually conducted on the last working day of September, so that educational institutions and their staff are available for conducting the test. 

Scheme of Examination: Three sets of objective type papers are set out separately for LDC; UDC & Assistant; and Superintendent & Officers, The question paper of LDC is bilingual. The question paper not only covers the provisions of the RTI Act and RTI Rules but also seek to test the knowledge about latest judgments pronounced by the Central Information Commission, High Courts and the Supreme Court. 

The papers are set out by retired officers well versed in RTI and also evaluated by them to preserve secrecy and impartiality. The usual procedure for conducting departmental test is followed viz invitation of applications; issue of Roll Nos; arrangement for examination centres; setting & printing of papers; evaluation etc. is done. 

Prize Distribution Function: After declaration of result annual Prize Distribution Function is held where the Chief Secretary gives away the prizes. 




Lessons Learnt: This has encouraged the officers and staff members to a great extent and participation is increasing year after year. 

Financial Implications: The cost of test is not much. A sum of about Rs 2.00 lakhs per annum is spent in conducting the test including prize money.

Positive outcome: The scheme is boosting the morale of the officers and staff. It is also helping the public authorities in identifying and utilizing the services of skilled and knowledgeable manpower for handling the RTI work, which is otherwise dreaded, by and large.  

Scope of replication: The scheme can be replicated not only by the Public Authorities of Central government but also by all the State Governments/ Union Territories without much cost to boost the morale of its employees and officers and get better results.



FAQs

Q.1.     Can employees of other attached and subordinate organisations of Delhi government participate?

Ans.1. Yes

Q.2.     Are winners given any certificate?

Ans.2.Yes.

Location: India

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