The efforts of RTI activists in the US and India since November 2006 have been
rewarded with the Indian Embassy in Washington DC being brought under the
purview of the RTI Act, 2005. A Public Information Officer has accordingly been
appointed to facilitate the service at the embassy.
Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the US can exercise their right to information by
filing an RTI at the embassy. The query would be forwarded to the department in
India and a response is assured within 35 days.
NRIs have been quick to exercise their right, with 10 applications already filed
within days of the announcement. Filing an RTI application, either in writing or
electronically, is a simple process entailing a nominal payment of 24 cents to
the Public Information Officer.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) in India has been very instrumental in
bringing the Indian embassy in the US under the purview of the RTI Act.
The Right to Information Act came into force in October 2005 with the objective
of bringing transparency and accountability in the functioning of every public
body. It grants citizens of India the access to information, and binds every
public authority to maintain and index computerized and online records to
facilitate access.
Source: NRI reality news 25th July’07
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