Delhi dedicates week to RTI on fourth anniversary

New Delhi: Oct 10 -IANS As the Right to Information (RTI) Act Monday completes four years of empowering the people of India through access to hitherto privileged information, the Delhi government has been celebrating the run up to D-day as the RTI week. Posting a circular on its website, the Delhi government asked all government offices to organise lectures, workshops, publicity campaigns on RTI in celebration of the week which began Oct 6. The RTI Act was passed by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in June 2005 after years of struggle by NGOs and civil society groups. The act ensures a timely response to citizens' requests for government information, promoting transparency and accountability. For the benefit of the people, the circular also suggested that all offices and organisations set up a separate counter to receive RTI applications and the requisite fee. 'The public information officers and assistant public information officers should assist and guide applicants in preparing RTI applications,' the guidelines said. It is further suggested that the RTI webpage on the Delhi government's website www.delhigovt.nic.in is updated in all respects. The Central Information Commission (CIC), which is the apex body under the RTI Act 2005, has disposed of 33,000 cases in the last four years. But nearly 10,000 cases are still pending with the commission.