Right to Information includes the right to:

1. Inspect works, documents, and records.
2. Take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records.
3. Take certified samples of material.
4. Obtain information in form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video, and cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts.
   
   “Information” means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force.“Record” includes:

   a) Any document, manuscript and file
   b) Any microfilm, microfiche, and facsimile copy of a document
   c) Any reproduction of image or images embodied in such microfilm (whether enlarged or not); and
   d) Any other material produced by a computer or any other device;
   
   The Right to Information (RTI) Act it has come into force from the year 2005 April and until now two states have recorded highest RTI application filed namely, CHATTISGARH and KARNATAKA. However, the problem is 48% of these applications are filed by civil servants and not by ordinary citizens. This gives the clue of unawareness about such a powerful weapon in the hands of common man. It is one of the revolutionary acts in Indian history. RTI act 2005 accompanied with LOKAYUKTA Act 1984 of Karnataka give and ordinary man the strength to crush the rampant corruption prevailing in most of the GOVT. offices. According to a survey done by Mr. M N Vijay Kumar, secretary of CADA, (Belgaum), Belgaum is the most corrupt district in Karnataka racing Bangalore. Reason is Belgaum is second largest economy of Karnataka.

The potential is far more than the actual and the gap is due to lethargic attitude of Belgaumites and rampant corruption in all departments. The drive to throw out corruption from our city can easily begin with RTI application followed up by an affidavit with S P LOKAYUKTA, Belgaum. Therefore, it is an appeal to every citizen of Belgaum to come forward and file RTI application where corruption is suspected.

Shri.Gangadhar Patil edits this particular page. He can be mailed at putani2005@yahoo.co.in or gangadhar@belgaumblog.com

Belgaumblog.com is just a platform from which people be helped to get information about how their money is being used.