Digital India? Gujarat behind Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, "fails to create" online RTI portal

Jadeja

By Our Representative
Failure of the Gujarat government to create an online portal to file right to information (RTI) applications online of Government of India for the last four years has started becoming a major issue with the state’s top activists, who have started a sustained campaign for it, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong support to online payment following demonetization.
At least two senior activists – Shailendrasinh Jadeja and Kirit Rathod – have written separate letters to the Gujarat chief minister to ensure create a sustainable mechanism in all the departments across the state to obtain online RTI applications, and electronically send replies.
Jadeja of Seva Foundation, Rajkot, has in a letter to the CM claimed that while Modi has “relentlessly tried for the inclusive development of Gujarat in a most transparent way”, which has led to “consistent, reliable results”, his home state has failed to make headway in the concept of “digital India” for e-governance.
“Modi conceptualized Digital India for e-governance to ease administration in a people-friendly mode”, says Jadeja’s letter, adding, “States like Odisha, Maharashtra and Rajasthan have already taken a leap forward for giving the replies in electronics form to the people through Online RTI Portal for RTI.”
While, he insists, this has “reduced” paper work substantially and speed of getting and giving the information in other states, quickening up payments received for RTI pleas, there is reason to wonder, “Where is Gujarat – the fastest developing state, in initiating an online portal?”
In a separate letter sent to Modi, Jadeja urges Modi to “give order to the state government to start an online RTI portal”, sending out messages on the social media and via email, to begin a sustained campaign for this.

Rathod

“You can do this by sending your name, mobile No, name of the city and email address on 09825197973, 09825465556 in the form of SMS or WhatsApp, or send an email on sevafoundationtrust@gmail.com” or “write on http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/interact-with-honble-pm” he adds.
“The sole purpose behind this movement is to embark upon the government to bring all is offices under one umbrella so that every citizen of the state can avail the e-information from the online RTI portal”, adds Rathod of the Dalit Adhikar Andolan Samiti in his letter to the Gujarat chief minister, adding, “It seems the state government is drifting away in the Prime Minister’s Digital India.”
Both Jadeja and Rathod refer, in this context, refer to a letter written by secretary, department of personnel and training, Government of India, SK Sarkar, on December 3, 2013, to the Gujarat chief secretary, urging the latter to launch a web portal named RTI Online on lines of the Government of India for all ministries and departments.
At the Centre, he says, there is a facility for online filing of RTI applications/first appeals and also for online payment of RTI fees, adding, the replies to RTI applications/first appeals can also be given online. This web portal has been designed and developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC).
Pointing out that NIC has been asked to “provide technical support such as software ad source code to the state governments who desire to replicate the web portal on online filing of RTI applications at state level”, the letter adds, just as for the Centre, the State Bank of India (SBI) has been asked to create a payments gateway for state RTI online portals.

Comments

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman* Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

SC 'appears to foster' culture of secrecy, does not seek electoral bond details from SBI

By Rosamma Thomas* In its order of November 2, 2023 on the case of Association for Democratic Reforms vs Union of India contesting constitutional validity of electoral bonds, the Supreme Court directed all political parties to give particulars of the bonds received by them in sealed covers to the Election Commission of India. SC sought that information be updated until September 2023.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Only 12% of schools RTE compliant: Whither 6% budgetary allocation for education?

By Ambarish Rai* Despite Indian state’s commitment of 6% GDP on education, the Finance Minister completely ignored right to education for children and strengthening implementation of RTE Act which makes education a fundamental right in her budget speech . The Right to Education (RTE) Forum, which is a collective of different stakeholders in education, condemns this neglect of a legal entitlement, which is unconstitutional and demand for overall increase in the budget to ensure improvement in learning outcomes and overall enhancement of quality education.

Savarkar in Ahmedabad 'declared' two-nation theory in 1937, Jinnah followed 3 years later

By Our Representative One of the top freedom fighters whom BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi revere the most, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was also a great supporter of the two nation theory for India, one for Hindus another for Muslims, claims a new expose on the man who is also known to be the original proponent of the concept of Hindutva.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

'Ambiguous policy': India late in advocating EVs as energy storage in national grid

By Shankar Sharma* This is regarding the points raised by the Chief Electricity Authority’s (CEA's) advocacy for usage of electrical vehicles (EVs) as energy storage technology, and few associated issues . An objective reading of what he states should reiterate the enormously growing importance of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in our need to transition to a net-zero carbon scenario for the country.

Union Health Ministry, FSSAI 'fail to respond' to NHRC directive on packaged food

By Our Representative The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the adverse health effects caused by packaged foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats. Recognizing it as a violation of the Right to Life and Right to Health of Indian citizens, the quasi-judicial body called for a response from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding its selection of front-of-pack labels aimed at providing consumers with information to make healthier choices.

Search This Blog