RTI on PM CARES Fund

Why in news?

Right to Information (RTI) applications seeking information pertaining to the PM CARES Fund have been stonewalled.

What is the concern?

• This violation of peoples’ RTI is particularly concerning given the unprecedented crisis gripping the nation.
• Relief and welfare programmes funded through public money are the lifeline of people who lost income-earning opportunities during the lockdown.
• The poor and marginalised affected by the public health emergency are to have any hope of obtaining the benefits of government schemes.
• So, they must have access to relevant information.

What is a worrying narrative?

• A narrative seems to have emerged that public scrutiny of actions of the government is undesirable during the crisis and citizens must unquestioningly trust the state.
• This undermines the basic democratic tenet that citizens’ oversight is necessary to ensure they are able to access their rights.
• Without information, peoples’ ability to perform that role is eviscerated and corruption thrives.

• The RTI Act, 2005, has empowered citizens to access information from public authorities and hold them accountable.

Why openness is crucial?

• During the Covid-19 crisis, proper implementation of the law has assumed greater significance than ever before.
• Information related to implementation of relief measures announced by governments should be widely disseminated.
• Greater openness would prevent controversies of the kind exemplified by faulty testing kits and fake ventilators.
• It is a time when incentives for secrecy are great, and the scope for discretionary actions are wide.

• During this time, a culture of openness needs to be created to empower people to participate in the decisions that have profound effects on their lives and livelihoods.

How accessibility can be ensured?

• Numerous instances have been reported of Covid-19 patients requiring treatment in ICUs being shunted from one hospital to another.
• This could be prevented if hospitals and health centres publicly provide real-time information about availability of facilities.
• To ensure accessibility to those who need it the most, relevant information must be made available in local languages and widely disseminated.
• In fact, this is a statutory obligation of public authorities under Section 4 of the RTI Act.

How did the transparency watchdogs perform?

• Around 21 out of 29 commissions in the country did not hold a single hearing during the first three stages of the lockdown.
• The Central Information Commission and some State commissions used audio and video conferencing to hear and dispose cases.
• But, most commissions did not make provision for hearing even urgent matters.
• In the current scenario, the role of information commissions is crucial.

What is the way forward?

• In the midst of a pandemic, it is reasonable to expect delays in processing information requests.
• However, the public authorities must not be allowed to interpret the crisis as a justification for not complying with the RTI Act.
• People must be able to obtain information about how and where their money is being spent in the efforts to combat the pandemic.
• They should also know whether the funds are reaching the intended beneficiaries.

Source: The Hindu