Students can use the Right to Information Act to get solutions to most of their problems. Vikram Simha speaks to Odeal D'Souza on how the RTI Act can benefit students.
With the introduction of the RTI Act in 2005, a doorway has been opened to citizens, who can seek details about educational institutions run by the government and their spending policies. Students from schools can file an RTI seeking information on the lack of basic amenities like restrooms, safe drinking water, blackboards, teaching kits, playgrounds and libraries, as it is their prerogative. It is important that they know what questions are to be asked. Parents can also make use of the Act on behalf of their children. Crucial issues like a child on sick leave not being allowed to take an exam despite the parents having provided all medical documents can also be questioned using the Act. College students can make use of the Act to know why their certificates or hall tickets are being delayed when the exam dates are due, why results are not released, why a convocation ceremony is not held and such like. Students will definitely get answers to their problems using the RTI Act if they raise the necessary questions. Students can also use the RTI Act for purposes like getting a distinction or a rank. First, she should apply for the answer sheet of the rank holder using the Act. The name of the topper and the year in which she secured the rank must also be mentioned. Information on filing an application can be obtained from colleges and universities. Questions can include reasons for the delay, name of the person in charge, etc. The application has to be submitted to a public information officer after paying a fee of Rs10. One can fill an application in the following manner: A voluntary declaration, as specified in the RTI Act, must be submitted to the deputy director of public instructions (DDPI) of the district. Submit the entitlement for whatever inquiry is required. Mention your queries over the issue. You should receive an answer in 30 days. If the answer is not provided or is not satisfactory, a complaint can be lodged with the next higher official in the department as first appeal authority as per the Information Commission. This also allows the information officer to be penalised at Rs250 per day's delay to a maximum of Rs25,000. The commission can also direct disciplinary action against the erring officer and recommend a review and enforcement of systems and procedure in the working of the department. Vikram Simha is trustee of the RTI study centre http://epaper.dnaindia.com/dnabangalore/newsview.aspx?eddate=1/23/2009&pageno=9&edition=9&prntid=1396&bxid=27946462&pgno=9 ----------------------------- http://www.saveindianfamily.org/ http://www.societymirror.info/ http://www.crisp-india.org/ http://www.antidowry.org/ http://www.wethemen.us/ I also blog at: http://legalterror.wordpress.com Keep Fighting Legal Terrorism Keep Fighting Inequality in Justice http://www.pollsb.com/webdigr http://www.myntra.com/affiliate/329 If "con" is the opposite of "pro", then what is the opposite of progress? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
