Need to file an RTI,expert help is now at hand….Manthan K Mehta
Mumbai: A new breed of professionals is on the rise that owes its existence to the Right To Information (RTI) Act.The sunshine act has proved to be effective in empowering citizens.
The professionals,though few,are experts on the RTI Act.They are well-versed with the Acts finer points and can draft questionnaires for applicants.These consultants charge anything from a couple of hundreds to a few thousands.In some cases,they demand a commission if theres monetary benefit to the client.
A Ramakrishnan,who retired as Maharashtra principal secretary and became an RTI consultant,said,People are eager to use the Act but are unaware of the modalities.We,therefore,started providing consultancy services on RTI-related issues.
Ramakrishnan works with a firm that provides consultancy services to small and medium firms that cannot afford former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers.The firm set up an RTI cell,which consists of retired government employees who guide clients on how they can file their application.
Ramakrishnan said,There are many who want to file an RTI application but are stuck due to lack of knowledge about the Act or lack of time.We decided to offer our expertise in the field.Even though we charge fees,our aim is to create awareness about the Act.
Explaining his business model,he said,After seeking an appointment on the telephone,the client,depending on the nature of the RTI query,has to pay a few hundred rupees per session for a meeting with an expert.We listen to their grievances and try to understand the motive behind the query.We advise them on whether or not to file the application.
The firm charges additional fees if the client wants an expert to file the application on his behalf.Ramakrishnan said,Usually,we ask the client to give us the power of authority in the form of an affidavit before drafting the application.We also ask experts to appear before the information officer on behalf of the client.
Talking about his firms clientele,Ramakrishnan said,Some people want to use RTI to solve personal problems.Then there are those with a wider social agenda.Many businessmen make use of the Act to protect their business interests.
Ketan Modi,a former journalist who has become a fulltime RTI activist-cum-consultant,said he offers services on a professional basis to people who will get monetary benefits on using the Act.
Navin Pandya,a social activist from Malad,decided to provide services as an RTI consultant,and has conducted workshops on how to use the Act.