Incumbency list, verification most ‘sought after’ information in Nagaland

March 27, 2023 49 Views No Comment

Reversing a declining trend, 2021-22 sees marginal increase in RTI application

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 27

Matters related to ‘Verification’ and ‘Incumbency List’ continue to dominate RTI (Right To Information) applications in Nagaland in 2021-22, while there was marginal increase in number of applications, reversing a downward trend since 2016-17.

These, among others, were the highlights of the Annual Report (2021-2022) of the Nagaland Information Commission (NIC) tabled by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio during the First Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on March 23.

As per the commission data, the most ‘sought after’ nature of information during 2021-22 was ‘Verification’ of documents such as Marks sheet, Admit Cards, Degree & Diploma Certificates, Driving Licenses, Arms License, Certificates etc. Such queries constituted 20.25% of the of the total RTI application.

Following closely was ‘Incumbency List’ at 15.99%, which involves information on matters such as number of employees, seniority of employees, seniority list, list of employees to be retired, vacancy of posts, selection of employees, date of appointment, date of retirement etc.

The third highest category were ‘Schemes Related’ at 14.86% where applicants sought information on name of scheme/projects, amount allocated, location, welfare schemes, guidelines etc.

Financial matters such as funds released, sanction orders, financial assistance/grants, utilisation certificate, departmental charges, bank account statements, amount sanctioned etc also featured high at 12.19%.

Other dominant queries were ‘Service Matters Related’ (6.86%) such as appointments made, waiting list, merit list, promotion, educational qualification, enrollment, service book, compassionate appointment, approval for appointment, pensions related etc; and Contract/Civil works (6.66%) such as Detailed Project Report, Notice Inviting Tender (NIT), progress report, completion certificates, name of works, name of contractor, works order etc. (See Table)

A total of 9.93% of the RTI applications were also designated as ‘Miscellaneous Documents’ concerning with matters such as Acts, rules, office memorandum, notifications, circulars, reports etc.

Increase in applications

Meanwhile, the total number of RTI applications received by various Public Authorities in Nagaland saw a marginal increase from 1548 in 2020-21 to 1794 in 2021-22.

The 2021-22 figure was a reversal of a declining trend in RTI applications witnessed since 2016-17.

As per the data provided by the NIC, Nagaland saw highest applications in 2015-16, when 4526 RTI queries were received. However, it declined to 4344 in 2016-17, and was on a downward trend thereafter till 2021-22.

In 2021-22, the overall percentage of information furnished during 2021-22 was 89.4% with 1604 replies given by the PIOs (Public Information Officers) of various Public Authorities.

Nagaland RTI Application Received & Furnished from 2015-15 to 2021-22

Source: Chart based on ‘Annual Report 2021-22,’ Nagaland Information Commission.

Only 12 number of RTI applications were rejected during 2021-22 with the rate of rejection at 0.66%, as per the NIC report.

Further, out of the 1794 RTI applications received, the Directorates received the highest number of at 47%, followed by the districts at 32%, Secretariat at 15% and Other Units (Commissions, Boards, Missions, Statutory bodies, Autonomous bodies, PSUs etc) at 6%.

A total of 1167 or 65% of the RTI applications were received from within the State while the rest 627 or 35% were received from outside the state.

Applications in districts

In term of the number of RTI applications received district-wise during 2021-22, Kohima received the highest number at 114 followed by Dimapur, Wokha, Phek, Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng and Peren.

Zunheboto, Longleng and Peren district had furnished 100 % of the RTI application received.

Wokha and Kiphire District had furnished the lowest percentage of RTI application received at 89.66 % and 88.24% respectively, the report stated.

Gender-wise RTI applicants

The percentage and the number of female applicants continued to remain very low as seen in the previous years, the report stated.

During the period for 2021-22, 94.88% of RTI applicants were males and only 4.78% were female applicants.

The percentage of BPL applicants was also very negligible at 0.34% of the total number of RTI applicants, the report stated.