Right to Information Act Part-1

What is RTI? 

RTI stands for Right to Information. Right to Information is a part of fundamental rights under Article 19(1) of the Constitution. Article 19 (1) says that every citizen has freedom of speech and expression. As early as in 1976, the Supreme Court said in the case of Raj Narain vs State of UP, that people cannot speak or express themselves unless they know. Therefore, right to information is embedded in article 19. In the same case, Supreme Court further said that India is a democracy. People are the masters. Therefore, the masters have a right to know how the governments, meant to serve them, are functioning. Further, every citizen pays taxes. Even a beggar on the street pays tax (in the form of sales tax, excise duty etc) when he buys a piece of soap from the market. The citizens therefore, have a right to know how their money was being spent. These three principles were laid down by the Supreme Court while saying that RTI is a part of our fundamental rights.

If RTI is a fundamental right, then why do we need an Act to give us this right? 

This is because if you went to any Government Department and told the officer there, “RTI is my fundamental right, and that I am the master of this country. Therefore, please show me all your files”, he would not do that. In all probability, he would throw you out of his room. Therefore, we need a machinery or a process through which we can exercise this fundamental right. Right to Information Act 2005, which became effective on 13th October 2005, provides that machinery. Therefore, Right to Information Act does not give us any new right. It simply lays down the process on how to apply for information, where to apply, how much fees etc.

When did RTI Act come into force? 

The Central Right to Information Act came into force on the 12th October, 2005. However, before that 9 state Governments had passed state Acts. These were J & K, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam & Goa.

What rights are available under RTI Act 2005? 

Right to Information Act 2005 empowers every citizen to

• Ask any questions from the Government or seek any information
• Take copies of any government documents
• Inspect any government documents.
• Inspect any Government works
• Take samples of materials of any Government work.

Who is covered under RTI? 

The Central RTI Act extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. All bodies, which are constituted under the Constitution or under any law or under any Government notification or all bodies, including NGOs, which are owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Government are covered.

What is “substantially financed”? 

This is neither defined under RTI Act nor under any other Act. So, this issue will evolve with time, maybe through some court orders etc.

Are Private bodies covered under the RTI Act? 

All private bodies, which are owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Government are directly covered. Others are indirectly covered. That is, if a government department can access information from any private body under any other Act, the same can be accessed by the citizen under the RTI Act through that government department.

Isn’t Official Secrets Act 1923 an obstacle to the implementation of RTI Act? 

No. Sec 22 of the RTI Act 2005 clearly says that RTI Act would over ride all existing Acts including Officials Secrets Act.

Can the PIO refuse to give me information? 

A PIO can refuse information on 11 subjects that are listed in section 8 of the RTI Act. These include information received in confidence from foreign governments, information prejudicial to security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the country, breach of privilege of legislatures, etc. 

There is a list of 18 agencies given in second schedule of the Act to which RTI Act does not apply. However, they also have to give information if it relates to matters pertaining to allegations of corruption or human rights violations.

Does the Act provide for partial disclosure? 

Yes. Under Section 10 of the RTI Act, access may be provided to that part of the record which does not contain information which is exempt from disclosure under this Act.

Can access be denied to file notings? 

No. File notings are an integral part of the government file and are subject to disclosure under the Act. This has been clarified by the Central Information Commission in one of its orders on 31st Jan 2006.

How to use Right to Information 

How do I locate the full Act? 

The full Act in Hindi and English is available on the website of Department of Personnel and Trainingwww.persmin.nic.in. It is also available on this website.

Who will give me information? 

One or more existing officers in every Government Department have been designated as Public Information Officers (PIO). These PIOs act like nodal officers. You have to file your applications with them. They are responsible for collecting information sought by you from various wings of that Department and providing that information to you. In addition, several officers have been appointed as Assistant Public Information Officers (APIOs). Their job is only to accept applications from the public and forward it to the right PIO.

Where do I submit application?

You can do that with the PIO or with APIO. In the case of all Central Government Departments, 629 post offices have been designated as APIOs. This means that you can go to any of these post offices and submit your fee and application at the RTI counter in these post offices. They will issue you a receipt and acknowledgement and it is the responsibility of that post office to deliver it to the right PIO. The list of these post offices is given at http://www.indiapost.gov.in/rtimanual16a.html

Is there any fee? How do I deposit that?

Yes, there is an application fee. For Central Government Departments, it is Rs 10. However, different states have prescribed different fee. For details see rules framed by the states on this website. For getting information, you have to pay Rs 2 per page of information provided for Central Government Departments. It is different for different states. Similarly, there is a fee for inspection of documents. There is no fee for first hour of inspection, but after that, you have to pay Rs. 5 for every subsequent hour or fraction thereof. This is according to Central Rules. For each state, see respective state rules. You can deposit fee wither in cash or through a DD or bankers cheque or postal order drawn in favor of that public authority. In some states, you can buy court fee stamps and affix it on your application. This would be treated as if you have deposited the fee. You can then deposit your application either by post or by hand.

What should I do if the PIO or the concerned Department does not accept my application?

You can send it by post. You should also make a formal complaint to the respective Information Commission under section 18. The Information Commissioner has the power to impose a penalty of Rs 25000 on the concerned officer who refused to accept your application.

Is there an application form for seeking information?

For Central Government Departments, there is no form. You should apply on a plain sheet of paper like an ordinary application. However, many states and some ministries and departments have prescribed formats. You should apply in these formats. Please read rules of respective states to know

How can I apply for information? 

Draft your application on a normal sheet of paper and submit it by post or in person to the Public Information Officer (PIO). [Remember to keep a copy of the application for your personal reference]

How can I deposit my application fee? 

Every state has a different mode of payment for application fee. Generally, you can deposit your application fee via:

• In person by paying cash [remember to take your receipt]
• By Post through:

• Demand Draft
• Indian Postal Order
• Money orders (only in some states)
• Affixing Court fee Stamp (only in some states)
• Banker’s cheque

• Some state governments have prescribed some head of account. You are required to deposit fee in that account. For that, you can either go to any branch of SBI and despoist cash in that account and attach deposit receipt with your RTI application. Or you can also send a postal order or a DD drawn in favour of that account alongwith your RTI application.

Please see respective state rules for complete details.

INS Vikrant

The 37,500 tonne INS Vikrant is expected to go for extensive trials in 2016 before being inducted into the navy by 2018.INS Vikrant has a capacity to carry 36 fighter planes.

With this, India joins a select group of countries capable of building such a vessel.Other countries capable of building a similar ship are the US, the UK, Russia and France.

The ship will be then re-docked for outfitting and further construction.

The ship, which will have a length of 260m (850ft) and a breadth of 60m, has been built at the shipyard in Cochin. It was designed and manufactured locally, using high grade steel made by a state-owned steel company.

The phase 1 contract, which included building of the hull structure and fitting of the propulsion system, was awarded by the Navy to the CSL at a cost of Rs 1,160 crore. The next phase involves the work on the entire hull structure, laying all the pipelines , cabling, ventilation trucking, fitting all the motors and switchboards, and other facilities like dwelling units for the crew.

Food Security Bill 2013

Indian Government Passed an Ordinance Bill " Food Security Bill 2013 " This is a social program that would bring cheap food to hundreds of millions of poor people throughout the country. 

Highlights of this Bill:-

1. Up to three-quarters of people in the rural areas and up to half of the urban population would get five kilograms of grains per month at subsidized prices (3 rupees per kilo for rice, 2 rupees per kilo for wheat and 1 rupee per kilo for coarse grains).

2. The poorest households would continue to receive 35 kilograms of grains per month under the “Antyodaya Anna Yojana” at subsidized prices.

3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers would receive a maternity benefit of at least 6,000 rupees

4. Children aged six months to 14 years would get take-home ration or hot cooked food.

5. The central government also would provide “assistance” towards the cost of intra-state transportation, handling of grains.

6. The central government also would provide money to states and union territories if it runs low on grain.

Facts of Food Security Bill:-

1. Two out of three Indians, or around 810 million people, would get five kilograms of subsidized food grains every month. The program would offer food subsidies to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
2. The government believes the program would push India’s food subsidy bill by 45% to 1.3 trillion rupees ($21 billion) a year. Critics estimate the cost could be as high as two trillion rupees a year.
3. The plan would dent India’s fiscal credibility. The program is projected to push up India’s fiscal deficit to 5.1% of GDP in the current fiscal year. The government has promised to keep that deficit under 4.8%.
4. Another big worry is that the plan will be implemented via the inefficient and corrupt public distribution system. About 10% of India’s food rots in warehouses before it is distributed.
5. But the plan could be a boon for the poorest Indians hit hard by rising inflation. The plan could cut expenses of households by up to 8%, according to Crisil Research.
6. Despite the economic boom over the last decade, India ranks 65th out of 79 countries on the Global Hunger Index. Nearly half of India’s children under five are chronically malnourished.

Prime Minister National Relief Fund ( India )

Contributions towards PMNRF can be made:

(a) at Prime Minister's Office, South Block: in cash and through postal order, money order, cheque or demand draft drawn in favor of the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

(b) contributions can also be sent to Prime Minister's Office, South Block, New Delhi via post/ money order from any of the post offices, without any charge.

(c) Citibak customers have option to contribute online towards Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

(d) through cash, cheque or demand draft drawn in favor of the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund deposited with any of the branches of the 20 designated Collection Banks of the PMNRF, Name and address of the Nodal Branches of these Collection Banks are:

1 Central Bank of India 70, Janpath, New Delhi

2 Allahabad Bank 17, Sansad Marg, New Delhi

3 Axis Bank New Delhi Main Branch, Statesman House, 148, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi

4 Bank of Baroda Ground Floor, 16, Sansad Marg, New Delhi

5 Bank of India 54, Janpath, New Delhi

6 Canara Bank Urdu Ghar, 212, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi

7 Citi Bank 3rd Floor, Jeevan Bharti Building, 124, Cannaught Circus, New Delhi

8 Corporation Bank M-41, Cannaught Circus, New Delhi

9 Dena Bank Mangal Bhawan, Arya Samaj Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi

10 HDFC Bank B-6/3, Safdarjung Enclave, DDA Commercial Complex, New Delhi

11 ICICI Bank D-949, New Friends Colony, New Delhi-65.

12 Indian Bank G-41, Cannaught Place, New Delhi

13 Indian Overseas Bank 10, Jeevan Deep Building, Sansad Marg, New Delhi

14 Punjab National Bank 5, Sansad Marg, New Delhi

15 Standard Chartered Bank H-2, Cannaught Circus, New Delhi

16 State Bank of India Institutional Division, 4th Floor, Sansad Marg, New Delhi

17 Syndicate Bank South Block, New Delhi

18 UCO Bank 5, Sansad Marg, New Delhi

19 Union Bank of India 14/15 F, Cannaught Place, New Delhi

20 Vijaya Bank Vijaya Building, 17, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi

Income Tax Benefits:- The fund is exempted from Income Tax under Section10(23)(c) & all contributions towards the PMNRF are exempted from Income Tax under Section 80(G).

For More detail About PMNRF click on the Link

10 Simple Tips To Make Life Green

     1. Hydrate your body without hurting the Earth.

 Stop using disposable plastic water bottles and instead invest in steel or glass bottles which are recyclable.

2. Replace shower gel bottles with soaps.

 When your Shower gel gets over, you’re left with an empty plastic bottle, and many communities don’t have the facilities to recycle these. Try swapping your shower gel with super-low-waste soap, preferably from a hand-cut bar or with recyclable paper packaging.

3. Give paper wrap a miss.

Instead of tossing tons of paper, tissue and gift bags each year, get creative and try packaging gifts in reusable items like tea towels, scarves, bandanas and more. Your packaging will be just as pretty, and it will be even more thoughtful.

4. Unplug Electronics.

Electronic items still consume energy when they’re turned off but plugged in, so before you leave the house for the day (and especially if you’re leaving for vacation), unplug all unused devices.

5. Use your old clothes as rags to clean.

Get extra use out of torn or holey t-shirts, towels and more by cutting them up and using them as dust clothes or wash rags.

6. Make paperless payments.

Save some trees by converting to online statements and payments for as many bills as possible. From credit cards to rent to electricity, nearly every bill can be paid electronically now, so just create email folders for statements and payment confirmations to organize and keep track of your payments.

7. Don't Pr-Heat the Oven.

Unless needed, just turn the oven on after you put the dish in it. Also, to see if it's finished just look through the glass instead of opening it. 

8. Save water

Wash only full loads of laundry, and make sure to select the correct load size and use cold water as much as possible. When buying a new washing machine, make sure to choose a high-efficiency model.

9. Get rid of junk mail

There are many services that can help you get rid of junk mail. That will lead to a lot less trees being cut down to take up room in your mailbox.

10. Use Matches instead of lighters.

Lighters are usually considered disposable so they will most likely end up in land fills. You can use the cardboard matches which are much more Eco-friendly because they are made of recycled material.

World Environment Day 2012

Youth Fiesta 2012- Special Moments

Happy Mothers Day

Your arms were always open when I needed a hug. Your heart understood when I needed a friend. Your gentle eyes were stern when I needed a lesson. Your strength and love has guided me and gave me wings to fly.

62nd Republic Day

Let new India arise out of peasants cottage, grasping the p lough, out of huts, cobbler and sweeper. – Swami Viveka Nand

Youth Club Wishes You Happy Republic Day.

Youth Club 9th Anniversary

Respected Friends,

Greetings!

We are pleased to share with you that we are celebrating our Ninth anniversary on January 21, 2012, the auspicious day, on which YOUTH CLUB was incorporated.

We would like to thank all our stakeholders for being associated with our endeavors, for all the support extended, and co-operative guidance to help us take the YOUTH CLUB movement ahead.

There is a long way ahead for us, and we assure you of our continued commitment, and seek your best wishes to move ahead.

Regards,

Team Youth Club

 

Bye Bye 2011

"Every goodbye brings the next hello closer."

Education Material Distribution Camp

Distribution Of Education Material To the needy and Poor Student.
I request you to come forward and support us.

You can Help Us in 3 Ways:-
1. Volunteering-
2. Give some financial Donation to us
3. Donate Books, Copy or Pencil to us

Interested Member can call me anytime:- +919970506893

Date:- 28-11-2011(Tentative)
Venue:- (Will be updated Shortly)

Place:- Lakhisarai, Bihar, India
Event Page on Facebook:- Education Material Distribution Camp

Note:- Date is tentative, very soon we will post you Exact date of Event.
Venue is also decided soon.

Regards
All Supportive people

Happy Friendship Day 2011

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.  ~C.S. Lewis

 मित्रता दिवस की हार्दिक सुभकामनाएँ ... इस सुभ मौके पर मैं आपके सुखमय एबम आनंद जीवन की कामना करता हु~ यूथ क्लब

Keep Yourself Busy To Stay Happy

People who have something to do, even if pointless, are happier than those who sit idle, say researchers.

The study was conducted by Christopher K. Hsee and Adelle X. Yang of the University of Chicago and Liangyan Wang of the Shanghai Jiaotong University.

"The general phenomenon I'm interested in is why people are so busy doing what they are doing in modern society," says Hsee.

Sure, there are reasons, like making a living, earning money, accruing fame, helping others, and so on, reported the Psychological Science journal.

But, Hsee says, "I think there's something deeper: We have excessive energy and we want to avoid idleness."

For the study, volunteers completed a survey, then had to wait 15 minutes before the next survey would be ready.

They could drop off the completed survey at a nearby location and wait out the remaining time or drop it off at a location, where walking back and forth would keep them busy for the 15 minutes.

Either way, they would receive a candy when they handed in their survey. Volunteers who chose to stay busy by going to the faraway locations were found to be happier than those who chose to be idle.
Sources :- SiliconVelly

A Letter to Nation (Youth Club)

Hello to All,

I would like to take this opportunity to share our views As a Founder of Youth Club and a citizen of India with you all. Youth Club is working science 2006 for the betterment of Society especially for Youth.

This is the high time that we all should think and act on the present condition of our nation. It is very difficult to see our mother earth getting ruined by man made mistakes, which could have been avoided by our responsible positive acts. We keep on blaming politicians, government, their policies, officers and others but we do not see our own responsibility towards our nation. Ask yourself first

Am I good responsible awakened citizen of India?

Have I contributed directly or indirectly for the growth of Nation?

If we see current status of our country, it is really shocking, disturbing and disgusting to all of us. We see failure in all sectors and systems. One in every two children in India is malnourished (UNICEF); here nodal agencies are making disastrous policy proposals to Government. Food security and self-sufficiency totally depends on production, procurement and distribution, today these are all in a failure state. It is hard to believe that the rate of food grain production falling below the rate of population growth.

24% of global diseases are caused by environmental exposures.13 million people die in every year due to reasons that can be easily avoided (WHO). HIV is big threat to the whole world .In this we have topped in all over the world. Soft drink industry is a major threat to precious ground water resources which common people use for drinking and irrigation purposes.

If we see ancient civilization, they worked on growing the internal self of man so that he remains liberated from the surroundings and events with the purpose of lifting up the life values of man in best proper way; that too without intervening in the normal flow of nature.

Now in modernization age, our purpose has shifted to fulfill our endless desires .In due course we lost the life values and exploited the nature. Nature lost its balance. Communication of man and nature is cut off.

We are losing the protective layer of ozone .Important factor is considered here is A/C(Air Condition).which we use in our house for our comfort. It releases A.F.C.and other hazardous gases in atmosphere. The average temperature of the Whole world has been increased by around 5-6deg.C.in last few years. On one side we see increase in GNP and GDP rate; but on other side we see there is increase in death due to malnourishment and unavailability of food in our country.

This all is caused due to superficial, improper knowledge and lack of awareness in the desperate effort for winning in the competition with others. We have been constantly working to walk with western countries thinking that success lies by being equivalent to them. Our materialistic mind thinks that intervening into the nature lays the success of the human beings. We forgot; What India has originally inherent gifts from the god? If we work on our true nature, no one can stop the Indians from their success.

We all need a change from this to survive on this god made beautiful planet earth with pride of unique human existence on earth. We have become insensitive to ourselves, others and to surroundings.

Our actions should be properly directed for the betterment of world. We must discover the ways to overcome it. We strongly believe these problems occurred due to unhappiness and endless craving of individuals .This can be erased only by union of man with the nature’s consciousness   to that creator’s consciousness .Spiritual thinking will not solve it; but it requires spiritual actions by spiritual state of human being. The purpose of initiating this movement is bringing that change in all of us by our sincere and serious efforts. We founded Youth Club and Wanted to register our group as an NGO.

We ask all of you who can contribute urgently and come forward to join us. We feel that this work is integral part of our consciousness and be passed on to all, urgently. The Youth Club is currently actively working in Bihar (Lakhisarai Distt.) but very soon we are going to expand our Youth Club with your help in all over India and does various social activities with only purpose to bring transformation Youth Club has been founded to show a new way to the whole world by Indian awakened youths for the global peace.

Your feedback and suggestion appreciated!!

Thanks!

Apurv Gourav

(On Behalf of Youth Club)

Facebook Youth Club Fan Page

Facebook Youth Club Group

Orkut Youth Club Community

Google Youth Club Page

Youth Club On Twitter

SC: Sale of helmets with bikes a must

NEW DELHI: Two-wheeler makers will now have to sell a helmet along with their bikes and scooters after the Supreme Court dismissed a plea by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) against such a step.

A bench comprising Justice G S Singhvi and Justice A K Ganguly dismissed the petition filed by the SIAM challenging an earlier order of the Delhi High Court.

The apex court said the manufacturers would have to give BSI certified helmets as “original equipment”.

On July 30, 2009, the HC made it mandatory for dealers to sell helmets along with new two-wheelers and said that the vehicle would not be registered by the authorities without it. SIAM contended that the HC order would restrict the people’s choice to buy their own helmet.

Sources:- Times of India

World Environment Day 2010: Take a Pledge Today

You might remember that June 5 is the World Environment Day.World Environment Day, celebrated each June 5, is one of the ways in which the United Nations works to make the world's population aware of the environment and to encourage people and governments around the world to take actions that promote the common good by promoting a healthy environment.

Many Species. One Planet. One Future. is the theme of World Environment Day for 2010.


The year 2010 has been designated the International Year of Biodiversity by the U.N., with the theme “Biodiversity is Life - Biodiversity is Our Life”.

 I suggest that you should take a pledge to add your might to the growing concern about the environment and take small steps to improve the environment. Here are some very simple tips:


1. Switch off a light and see if you can still work comfortably. Most of the times we have too many lights on in our offices and home.

2. Take out from the plug, all battery chargers, mobile charges and like when they are not in use.

3. Switch off your car while you wait (at least if it will take a minute or longer) at the red lights.

4. Before throwing a paper, see if you can use the back of the paper to plan, make casual notes or write things to do. You will help save many trees over your lifetime.

5. Most of the times, the air conditioners can be set to a notch warmer setting after it has cooled the room.

6. The computers and other electronic devices can be turned off in the night or when you will not be using them for a long duration

There can be thousands of cool ideas that will help us avoid global warming and keep the earth green. You are welcome to add your tips below.