V.P. Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh today launched ‘RTI Online’ portal for Chandigarh.With this launch, Chandigarh has become the first State/Union Territory in the country to have been registered on the GOI’s RTI-Online portal which allows RTI to be filed for seeking information from Central Ministries and other important offices like Prime Minister’s office and Cabinet Secretariat also.Residents can now file RTI with any Department of Chandigarh Administration by click of a mouse.Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Badnore said, “RTI is the key to strengthening participatory democracy and ushering in people oriented governance. Access to timely information empowers even the weakest sections of the society and enables them to get information about public policies and actions, thereby leading to their welfare.”Mr. Parimal Rai, Adviser to Administrator said that RTI is a unique way to promote good governance by bringing in transparency, accountability, predictability and participation.
e have in the same year provided the citizens with two tools – online Grievances and Online RTI which have empowered them. I am sure all of us working towards a better governance environment in UT would be able to meet citizens’ expectations.Also present on the occasion were Finance Secretary-cum – Secretary Information Technology, Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Mr. Jitender Yadav, Special Secretary IT and Mr. Arjun Sharma, Director IT.Under the new RTI Online system, more than 70 departments and offices under Chandigarh Administration including Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and Chandigarh Housing Board would be accessible. Citizens would have the option of making payment through debit and credit card and SBI Net-Banking. The RTI fees would be waived off for those belonging to BPL categories.RTI Online portal has been developed keeping in view various provisions of RTI Act 2005. Citizens can access the portal https://rtionline.gov.in/ and need to select ‘UT of Chandigarh’from the list of Ministries and Departments. Therefore, specific department of Chandigarh Administration can be selected.