GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE TO SET UP HELPLINE IN ATIs IN COLLABORATION WITH NGOs WORKING IN THE FIELD OF (RTI) AND THE (RTS) ACT ADJUDICATION.

The Government of India vide DOPT memo dated 9-1-2008 has stated that Clause (a) of sub section (1) of section 26 of the Right to information Act, 2005 casts a responsibility on the Governments of states to develop and organise educational programmes to advance the understanding of the public about exercise about their right to information. It is a gigantic task which requires involvement of various sections of society. Non -Governmental organizations are providing various kinds of services to the people and creating awareness amongst them. They come in close contact with the public and may play an important role in disseminating knowledge about the use of the Right to information Act It is therefore necessary to involve the Non-Governmental organisations working in the states to spread awareness about the RTI Act. The Right to information act was enacted in 2005 with the objectives of making the governance more transparent and accountable, however yet very few people are taking benefits of the RTI and the RTS Act adjudication and it is becoming necessary to set up helpline for answering queries of the general public regarding RTI Act in the respective regional language. Funds would be granted to ATIs based on their respective proposal subject to a maximum ceiling of rupee four lac per annum in the first year which would include rental charges for a telephone line, computer system for data storage, salary for the person manning the helpline and stationary, etc. The grants for the subsequent years would be restricted to rupee two lac per annum. Such helplines could be setup in collaboration with NGOs working in the field of RTI.