How to file RTI

Last month we filed 26 RTIs across all the states of India to find out the status of implementation of Right to Education Act from all the states and the centre. From some of them, we have got the response, some of them have transferred the application to other departments and notified us, some have replied in their Vernacular languages like Marathi, Kannada and Punjabi, which we are trying to decipher now.

Today, 25^th October is being celebrated as RTI Day. Let us take this day as an opportunity to exercise this Right, and demand any information that is needed from the government. RTI is a very powerful tool for citizens who are aware about their surroundings and want to do something for those around them, or even themselves.

The process to file an RTI is very simple. But unless you file atleast 2-3 RTIs yourself, you will not get the confidence to use it. Therefore, I recommend everyone to use today, RTI Day, as an opportunity to exercise this Right. In this post, I will help you with the steps required to file an RTI.

Step 1 – Decide on what information do you desire. Do you want to know about how your MPLAD/MLALAD fund was used ? Do you want to find out why your application was rejected in any government office ? Or do you want to know about the process and status of any government scheme ?

Write it down very precisely. Your questions should be very specific, and explanatory. Do not mention any ambiguous terms or vague questions. Also clearly mention the time period for which you seek the specific information.

Step 2 – Find out the appropriate Public Information Officer (PIO) from the concerned department. Go to the website of the concerned government department and you will find a link for RTI on the site. You can find the address on which the RTI is to be sent. If you are not sure whether this PIO will have an answer to your query or not, do not worry. If your query does not fall under the department of PIO to which you have sent it, then he has to transfer it to the appropriate department and notify you about the same. You don't need to pay any extra fee also.

Step 3 – Go to your nearest Post Office and collect a Postal Order for an “appropriate amount”. If your query is for the Central Government you will need a postal order for Rs.10. If your query is for the state government, then you will have to pay according to the charges which are mentioned on this link - http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/payment-fee-1101

Step 4 – Fill a performa with your details, and attach the questions with the performa and post it on the address of the PIO. (You can find the performa below)

Some Tips -

1. If you require the information in English from states whose regional language you do not understand, then mention it explicitly in the form - “Kindly provide the following information in English, as far as possible.
2. Some of our posts were returned as the PIO had changed. So in the address when you are sending the post, do not specifically mention the name of the PIO. Just write Public Information Officer, _______ Department, and so on.

For the convenience, I am attaching my RTI Application, here, so that it is easier to see how the questions are framed. You can download the word file from this link and use it to file your RTI - Blank RTI Format

To,

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

PIN: _______________________

Subject: Request for Information under Right to Information Act 2005.

Dear Madam/Sir,
I want to obtain following information from you under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The details are as under.

1. Applicant's Name –

2. Father’s Name –

3. Full Address of the applicant –

4. Phone No -

5. Email –

6. Details of Information required - Mentioned in Annexure – I, which is attached with this form.

I hereby inform that following formalities have been completed by me:

1. That I have deposited the requisite fee of Rs. _____/- by way of Cash / banker cheque / Draft / Postal Order/ others ___________________ ) favoring __________________________________ dated ________________.

2. That I am ‘Citizen’ of India and I am asking the information as ‘Citizen’.

3. I assure that I shall not allow/ cause to use/ pass/share/display/ or circulate the information received in any case and under any circumstances, with any person or in any manner which would be detrimental to the Unity and Sovereignty or against the Interest of India.

Signature of the Applicant

Dated:

Annexure - 1

Date: 18 September, 2013.

Dear Madam/Sir,

Kindly provide the following Information.

1. State Wise List of the designated Local Authorities (as defined in Definition 2.h of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009), along with their Contact Information, such as Name of such authority, their office address, contact number and E-mail Id.

2. Procedure and conditions for Private Un-Aided schools in each State, to claim refund for admitting students from Disadvantaged/ Economically Weak Section. Please enlist the timeline for this process.

3. State-wise list of Maximum Annual Per-child cost reimbursed to Private Un-aided schools, for the academic years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, for admitting students from EWS Quota.

4. Total number and a list of schools in each State that have been reimbursed for implementing 25% quota for Disadvantaged/Economically Weaker Section, for the academic years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. You may provide this Information in the following format, separately for each state.

Sr. No.	Name of the School	Address of the School	Number of Students for whom reimbursement has been made	Total Amount Reimbursed to the School	Academic Year	Date of Reimbursement	Remarks (if any)

5. Number of students belonging to Disadvantaged/Economically Weaker Section in Private Un-Aided Schools, who have been provided free Textbook and Uniforms for the academic years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 in each state. What was the total cost incurred on same.

6. What are the transport facilities being provided by each State Government for students with disabilities? Also provide the number of students who have benefited from this scheme in past 3 years. Please tell the state-wise expenditure on such facilities for the years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13?

7. What is the rule with respect to the seats in Private Un-Aided Schools which are reserved for Disadvantaged/Economically Weaker Section, which lies vacant due to non-availability of EWS Students?

8. What is the model for Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation being followed? Please provide a copy of this model.

9. Is a Private Unaided school, eligible to claim for refunds for admitting more than 25% students in the EWS/Disadvantaged quota through the Right to Education Act, 2009? If yes, Please mention the procedure.

10. Please enlist the procedure for a Private Un-aided School to increase the limits of its ‘Neighborhood’ (as defined in Section) to fill up 25% seats for EWS students.

11. What would be the appropriate address/income proof required for street-children to seek admission in a Neighborhood Private Unaided School under 25% Reservation for Disadvantaged/Economically Weaker Section? Is there any relaxation for ‘Neighborhood’ criteria of Street Children?

If you feel that any (or all) of the above requested information does not pertain to your department then please forward the application to appropriate Public Authority according to the provisions of Section 6(3) of the Central RTI Rules, 2005.

Yours Sincerely,

________________

Please send the information on following address –

__________________

__________________

__________________