Financial information most sought-after in the state

Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Dec. 17 (EMN): The most sought after information in Nagaland during 2015-17 through Right to Information (RTI) applications were those related with financial matters such as funds sanctioned, funds released, balance amount, departmental charges and deductions. This was contained in the Nagaland Information Commission’s (NIC) annual report covering the years 2015-16 and 2016-17 in a single volume tabled in the state assembly on Dec. 14 by Chief Minister TR Zeliang during the recently concluded winter session.
According to the report, the commission has recorded a total 24,896 RTI requests from the time the RTI Act 2005 came into effect in the state (from 2006-07 till 2016-17) and overall furnished figure stands at 22,954 with INR 8,78,750 realised as penalty.
With the aim to understand the nature of information sought through RTI so that the public authorities give special attention to this area, the commission stated to have made an analysis of RTI applications in the state for the first time for the periods 2015-16 and 2016-17. Besides financial matters, it stated that information relating to schemes, projects, contract works, civil works, incumbency list, recruitment and retirement list, and examinations considering the high rate of employment in the government sector in the state have gained popularity.
The NIC also reported that against the 46 RTI application and 40 disposed by PIOs in 2006-07, the numbers have seen a steady increase and 2016-17 recorded a total of 4344 applications and a disposal of 4071, a slight decline in comparison to 2015-16 which recorded the most applications with 4526 and a disposal of 4151. It pointed out the increasing figures reflect the growing awareness of RTI generated among the general populace.
During 2016-17, the RTI applications received at various levels of the government are: 2782 by the district authorities, 932 in the directorates, 354 in the state secretariat and 276 in other units.
In the district-wise break up for 2016-17, Zunheboto recorded the highest number of RTI applications with a total 849 wherein, 830 were from outside the state while 19 were within the state. Of this, 847 have already been furnished. Mokokchung and Wokha followed with 464 and 425 applications.
Out of the 4344 applications in2016-17, NIC reported that seven complaints were received and three of them were disposed while four were still pending; 186 appeals were received and 163 of those were disposed and the rest 23 remains pending. Regarding second appeals, the current year 2017-18 has already recorded 26 appeals, disposed four and 22 are pending.
As for the amount of fees, costs and penalty in 2016-17, NIC informed that RTI application fees added up to INR 36,702 while cost of information was recorded as INR 74,580, penalty imposed in complaints was INR 43,500, penalty imposed in appeals was INR 55,500.
On the department-wise break up on implementation of the RTI Act 2005 for the period 2016-17, the department of Transport recorded the highest number of RTI applications received (within and outside the state) with 2342 in total where 2265 applications were made in the districts.
Home department followed in the list with 438 applications while Higher and Technical Education had 217, Health and Family Welfare had 140, Rural Development with 127, Public Works Department with 108 and Social Welfare had 96.