Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 18 June 2024
The Right to Information (RTI) Portal of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, designed to enhance transparency and facilitate access to information, appears to be significantly outdated. The portal, accessible at http://andssw1.and.nic.in/rti/index.php and through the official Andaman and Nicobar Administration website’s footer section www.andaman.gov.in, has not seen updates for years.
The RTI Portal is intended to provide the latest monthly and quarterly reports on RTI applications received and disposed of, details on first appeals, and other relevant data. Additionally, it should feature updated lists of Public Information Officers (PIOs), Assistant Public Information Officers (APIOs), and Appellate Authorities across various departments, complete with their contact details. The RTI Act, 2005 mandates that a comprehensive 17-point manual for each department, detailing essential information, should be available and regularly updated on the portal. Furthermore, information on official tours conducted by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration officials should also be accessible.
However, the current state of the RTI Portal paints a starkly different picture. The portal’s last update dates back years, and all available information is outdated. Crucially, the latest 17-point RTI Manuals and details of official tours are missing, rendering the portal nearly obsolete.
The lack of updates and the apparent abandonment of the portal undermine the RTI Act’s purpose, which aims to empower citizens by ensuring transparency and accountability in governance. The Act has historically been a powerful tool for ordinary citizens to obtain information, address grievances, and expose corruption. Numerous success stories of individuals using RTI to effect change and hold authorities accountable are well-documented online.
Despite the proven benefits of the RTI Act, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration’s departments demonstrate a lackadaisical approach to its implementation. Most departments fail to maintain proper 17-point manuals on their websites. In instances where these manuals exist, they are often outdated or incomplete, depriving citizens of vital information.
To restore faith in the RTI mechanism, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration must prioritise updating the 17-point manuals for all departments. Ensuring that the RTI Portal is regularly updated with accurate and comprehensive information is the least the administration can do to empower its citizens and uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.