Haryana Chief Secretary Dharam Vir announced the launch of a call centre based helpline for effective implementation of Right to Information Act.
The toll-free helpline would guide callers about filing RTI applications. Mr. Vir said that the helpline, which would initially work on one-shift basis, will be operational within a month and added that depending on the traffic, additional helplines and shifts would be added later.
Mr. Vir said that an RTI cell would be created in the Office of Chief Secretary immediately and the same would be designated as Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO). APIO's main function would be to coordinate RTI work with various departments.
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) would develop a web-based portal for the RTI cell. The pilot launch of the portal is scheduled after three months.
The Chief Secretary said that in order to facilitate the payment of fee, a payment gateway would be incorporated in the web portal. The payment can be made through different modes like cash, draft, treasury challans and postal orders.
In cases of manual applications under RTI, payment of fee through affixation of court fee stamps would also be valid. Mr. Vir said that the Government would make necessary amendments in the Rules in this regard.The Hindu
