Namaste,
On Saturday(25th FEB 2006), I was off again on my
pursuit of filing more requests. I started early at
around 10.30 am.
STOP 1: Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (10.30 am)
Subject: To know the status of my earlier filed
request.
30 days have passed and still no signs that my request
was even looked into.It started the same way again,
tussles with officials of various departments. All of
them blamed each other saying that it was the other's
responsibility. I was frustrated. This was the second
time, I was going through this. This time I was
prepared to go the distance no matter what it
takes(This may sound a little filmy, but this is
true). I raised my voice saying that I will have to go
to the commissioner if this continues. Finally they
realised that i was not going to leave them unless
they give me the information.One department official
(clerk in the office of Asst Commissioner ADMIN) was
very smart. He accompanied me to the advertisements
department where the application was stuck. He told
the officials there that I had met the commissioner
and the commissioner was actually very angry at the
issue not being looked into. (Actually nothing of that
sort happened, that was only a trick by this clerk to
get the work done as this clerk was responsible to
give the information as he is the one who looks after
these issues). Then they woke up, and assuring me that
they would send the information to me in 1-2 days. I
was a bit satisfied and continued from there.
STOP 2: Police Control Room, Traffic Department (12.30
pm)
Subject: To meet the DCP, traffic and file a couple of
requests and also discuss about the traffic warden
program.
I had to wait for nearly 2 and half hours to meet the
DCP as he was very busy in the arrangements for
Mr.Bushs visit. Finally at around 3pm I went in and
submitted a couple of requests.
Request 1: To know the amount of fines collected
(official figures) from 1st Feb 2006 to 25th Feb 2006
from traffic offenders.
Again the first question, why do you want this
information? He asked me whether it was part of my
study etc. I told him that it was just like that I
needed this information. In the mean time two other
officials(one ACP and other DCP) entered the scene.
One of them was very authoritative in his voice and
kept asking me why did I need this information. He
actually quoted an analogy that we eat only when we
feel hungry. Finally I had to say to say something. I
told him that I saw a couple of traffic constables
taking money without writing a challan, so I wanted to
check out how much is actually being collected. Then
started the discussion (I would term it more as a
Fight). The ACP was just fuming on me saying You are
making a damaging statement on the entire police
department. Why didnt you complain to the higher
officials when you saw that. Are you honest?
I was soon realizing why common public are so much
afraid of the police. I was caught in between 3
police officials. But the DCP(Mr Anil kumar ,IPS)
cooled down the atmosphere asking the ACP not to get
too emotional. And he actually told him that they are
young people who want to know things. The reason for
which I went there was soon being lost in unnecessary
discussions. But the DCP was a very good person from
what I could make out. He showed the excel sheets
where they compare fines collected in the previous 3
days and how do they analyse things. They actually
deposit the entire sum in the Govt account daily. He
told me that in 2005, they deposited around 10 crores
collected via fines. One one day (24th Feb 2006), they
collected over 5 lakh rupees. Those were staggering
figures for me. It such was the amount that was
official, the unofficial amount would easily be
double. They can easily pay for the salaries of the
officials through fines. He told me that I can collect
the information on Monday. (That was very quick by any
standards). He was very proud saying that the police
was the best department where they take immediate
action on any report of fraud by their personnel.
By the time I left that place, Everything was fine and
I could convince the ACP that he misunderstood me. So
at last this was successful.
Request 2: To know if any permission was given by
traffic police to park vehicles on the main road by
those coming to the Bottles and Chimneys pub near
begumpet airport.
I was always very pained by the way the so called rich
and elite behave socially. They park their vehicles on
main roads, break all rules and above all blame the
illiterates and poor people for all that is going on.
These people happily get away with offences. I was
determined to take this to the police. The DCP
directed me to the ACP punjagutta area for this issue.
In the ACPs office punjagutta, the people there took
about 10 min to decide whether that place would fall
in their limits. After deliberations, finally they
concluded that it is indeed in their limits. After
that they asked me when are they parking vehicles. I
told them it was after 9pm and will continue till 1am.
The police SI said that they usually dont check after
10pm. The ACP there was very angry with the SI and
directed the SI to take my request and note all my
details. These days I feel very happy when I see less
number of vehicles being parked on the main road.
Still I am expecting the reply from them on what
action they have initiated. There are some more
locations in the city where there is exactly the same
problem. (Ex: Coffeeday in jubilee hills on the way to
madhapur)
STOP 3: Secretariat, AP Govt (4pm)
Subject: To know the status of my earlier filed
request.
I was by then exhausted after all that went on in the
day. Here in the secretariat, the people have
misplaced my request and they were unable to find it.
I was very angry and started serious discussion with
the Secretary to the Govt(an IFS officer). He assured
me that by Monday he would call me personally and let
me know the status. I left the place after his
assurance. They didint call me on Monday. I had to
call them when they informed me that my request was
forwarded to director of school education and they
will provide me the information. This was far better
than knowing that my request was misplaced.
What I generally observed in all these offices is that
the higher officials are a little better in the sense
that they understand our concerns. But the
sub-ordinates are the ones who are spoiling it. We
need not blame them also as they are not very well
educated about this law. Govt needs to first create
awareness among officials. The Police department also
was very receptive to the concerns. This was by far
the best department in all that I saw.
They called me up on the fines request and asked if
I was available so that they could give me the
information. I will collect it next week.
Sincere Regards
Rakesh
"ARISE, AWAKE AND STOP NOT TILL THE GOAL IS REACHED"
"LET US MAKE THE DREAM OF SAMARTHA AND PRABUDDHA
BHARAT A REALITY"
====================== THE FIRST VICTORY==================
Namaste,
After many efforts, the first fruits of success. MCH
has replied , The reply in their own words,
" With Reference to your letter cited,the following
information is furnished under Sction 3 of the RTI act
2005.
An amount of Rs 77,000/- was collected from the
Indian National Congress Party through Cheque bearing
NO:452841,dt.07-01-2006(A/C no:11638) of Central Bank
of India drawn on Kalyan Nagar Branch in favour of
Commissioner,MCH and the same deposited into MCH
account vide challan No: 2182/39 at SBH, MCh branch.
The breakup of RS 77,000/- is as follows,
1. Usage of 9 MCH arches for one week @ Rs 5000/-
each.
2. Erection of Bunting,Bill Boards,etc at 34 locations
@ Rs 500/- each.
3. Erection of flags at 100 locations @ Rs 150/- each.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter."
So there is the official word. Only Rs 77,000/- for
using the entire city. YOu all might have seen with
your own eyes as to how many flags and bill boards
have been erected. If it is so cheap that by paying
77,000 if you can use the city, I sure will bet that
every film producer would do that to promote their
films. And even an ordinary rich person can do that if
he is willing to become famous in one day by putting
his posters all over the city.
So by this we understand one thing that
Either the COngress party is at fault that they used
in excess of what was allowed(if this true, then they
have to pay up the remaining amount) or the MCH
officials are at fault that they turned a blind eye
towards all that was happening(may be there was
something taken from under the table)
SO please let me know your views on how do we take
this official information forward in punishing the
guilty............
Sincere Regards
Rakesh
"ARISE, AWAKE AND STOP NOT TILL THE GOAL IS REACHED"
"LET US MAKE THE DREAM OF SAMARTHA AND PRABUDDHA
BHARAT A REALITY"
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