Context: Issues associated with the RTI need to be addressed.
Issues under Right to Information Act (RTI)
Improper maintenance and divulgence in data secrecy: As data secrecy is ingrained in the bureaucratic system and government.
Lacks of accountability: Information can be a powerful tool to ensure the government responsibility in case of infringement on civil liberties of people. But the pandemic experience shows the inefficacy of government in providing information.
Quality of informationdisclosed and data maintained has deteriorated: Mainly due to lack of consensus.
Governance gap: The information commissions, the transparency watchdogs are struggling with growing case pendency, staff crunch, poor infrastructure and unfilled vacancies.
Growing reluctance to direct government authorities to disclose information or penalise officers wrongfully denying information.
Defunct Information Commission: As per the report of Satark Nagrik Sangathan, the information commissions have become defunct in three states: Jharkhand, Tripura and Meghalaya.
Way Forward
Revamp mechanism under RTI: Put all relevant information in public domain. Divulging information needs to be a norm, not an exception.
Demand accountability: Information means transparency means accountability. It is time citizens demanded accountability and the government delivered it.