|
|
|
|
.Patna,(BiharTimes): The real test has begun for Bihar’s bureaucracy, noted for its lethargic response, following the coming into effect of the Right to Public Service Act on August 15. Bihar is the second state after Madhya Pradesh to enact such law.
Reports said that in the first two days at least 40,000 applications were received at the district, sub-division and block headquarters across the state.
|
A large number of applicants mostly sought certificates for caste, income, residence, ration cards and social security pension. Special counters were opened in several districts on Wednesday.
The law was passed without even a debate in the state Assembly last March and the rules were framed in May.
Prescribed forms were made available from Tuesday for making applications and applicants were given receipts. The law provides penal action against officials failing to provide the certificates within the stipulated timeframe. There is also a provision for dismissal of officials from service for such failure.
However, outside Patna district magistrate’s office, many people were seen on Wednesday returning after being told by officials that their applications did not have complete documents required for the certificates they demanded.
What is strange is that a large number of touts were still seen in action at the government offices. May be, in the days to come they may demand some money from ignorant applicants to help them in ‘properly’ filling the forms.
Only time will tell whether the Nitish Kumar government succeeds in its commitments to deliver essential public services faster. After all RTI too was a very revolutionary idea and brought a lot of good to the society. Yet there are a number of stories of officials taking revenge from RTI activists. In a few cases several activists have even been killed, the latest being Shehla Masood in Bhopal on August 16.
comments...
|
|
