Nearly 100% Disposal of RTI Appeals Achieved: Dr. Jitendra Singh at NFICI Meeting

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd August.  Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the 13th Annual General Body Meeting of the National Federation of Information Commissions of India (NFICI) at the Central Information Commission headquarters on Friday. The meeting brought together Central and State Information Commissioners to discuss advancements in the Right to Information (RTI) framework.

Dr. Singh praised the NFICI’s role in advancing the RTI Act, 2005, emphasizing that transparency and citizen-centric governance have been central to the Modi administration’s approach since 2014. He highlighted the significant progress made in RTI appeals, noting that the disposal rate has approached 100%, with pendency consistently decreasing each year.

“The Right to Information Act is designed for maximum disclosure and minimal exemptions, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Maximum Governance, Minimum Government’,” said Dr. Singh. He also mentioned that India’s Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) has become a global model for grievance redressal, with a remarkable average redressal time of just five days due to its technology-driven solutions.

Dr. Singh urged the integration of Artificial Intelligence and modern tools to further enhance the efficiency of public information disclosure. He also underscored the importance of human intervention, referencing the establishment of a Human Desk for citizen feedback post-grievance resolution.

During the meeting, Dr. Singh acknowledged the Central Information Commission’s (CIC) achievements, including its consistent functioning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the operational efficiency of its new office complex established after 2014. He commended the CIC for its efforts in handling nearly 17,000 second appeals annually.

Chief Information Commissioner Heeralal Samariya updated Dr. Singh on the steady progress of the CIC, while Secretary CIC Mrs. Rashmi Chowdhary detailed various initiatives undertaken by the Information Commissions.

Dr. Singh concluded by inspiring young officers of the CIC, urging them to be “torchbearers and conscience keepers” in the vision for 2047.