Centre declines funds to UP institute for RTI promotion

The Centre today refused funds to the Uttar Pradesh Academy of Administration and Management, a premier training institute for bureaucrats, for the promotion of the Right to Information Act (RTI).
The institute that provides training to officers selected through state public service commission had sought Rs 1.5 lakhs for awareness generation for RTI and Rs 75,000 to meet the administrative contingencies.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which acts as nodal authority for implementation of the transparency law, declined the request saying "funds are not available under component concerned."
The DoPT, however, approved Rs 8.5 lakhs to the academy to train 850 officers at state, division and district levels for handling RTI matters.

A sum of Rs 10 lakh was also sought by the academy to provide training to 1,000 officers.
"As per the budget availability, the number of participants has been reduced from 1,000 to 850. Accordingly, Rs 8.5 lakh is being released for this purpose," a DoPT order said.
The grant is under the centrally-sponsored scheme 'Improving Transparency and Accountability in Government through Effective Implementation of the Right to Information Act.' The scheme, launched in August 2010, is aimed at contributing towards more accountable and transparent government, as well ensure "effective implementation of the RTI Act."
The transparency law empowers citizens to seek time-bound response to their queries related to governance.