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Digital Inclusion, E-Government

MCD introduces online filing of RTI applications

By Anshupriya Jha | 11 July 2011

In a first in Delhi, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) recently started accepting online Right to Information (RTI) applications. One can also track the progress of the application online.

The civic body is amongst agencies which get maximum number of RTI applications.

The solution has been developed by the IT department of MCD and is available on the civic body’s website www.mcdonline.gov.in.

A tab ‘Online RTI’ on the right hand side of the home page of the website takes the user to a fresh web page with all the information regarding RTI – the Act, rules, application form, status of the application and all other information.

‘Application Submission’ tab takes the applicant to the application form where he/she needs to provide details such as the name of the Department the query is directed to, the concerned Public Information Officer’s (PIO) name and information about himself/herself. While providing one’s name and address are mandatory, information like telephone number, mobile number and fax number are discretionary. It also asks for the applicant’s e-mail id so that the system could mail the application’s reference number.

While people belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category would be able to file a complaint for free, others would need to use their credit cards to pay an application fee amount of Rs. 10 and Rs. 25 under RTI and Delhi RTI application categories respectively. An additional amount of 2%, rounded off to rupee, would be charged above this as convenience fee and service tax.

Once the application is submitted, an auto-generated receipt is sent on the applicant’s email id. The applicant would also receive an SMS confirming the submission.

The applicant would also get a unique ID and password to track the status of the application. The reply would be emailed to the applicant within 30 days. A hard copy would also be sent to the applicant on the address provided by him/her.

The application will then be sent directly to the concerned PIO as all MCD departments are online. Earlier, the applications often used to land at the wrong desk for want of information on the applicant’s side which would make the entire process cumbersome. This method would not only mean speedy replies to queries but would also save the applicant’s time and money travelling to the concerned office for submitting applications.

A healthy precedent, other departments across the country would do well by emulating the MCD to ensure transparency, accountability and citizen’s participation in governance.

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