Bihar sets up Right to Information call centre network

It's been long since Bihar made news for positive reasons. The much talked about RTI is one area, where Bihar is taking lead for others to follow. If implemented in its true spirit, it could actually be a boon for the masses, reports CNBC-TV18.

"People should be able to use the RTI Act (Right To Information) without any trouble. So a telephonic network of call centres should be set up to make information available," said Nitish Kumar, Bihar chief minister.

This means taking the Right to Information one step forward. The Bihar government will soon set up a call centre so that RTI applicants can call to ask for information. The call centre will then apply to the department concerned and pass the information back to the applicant. And thanks to the new software, callers will now be able to use several languages including Hindi, Maithili and Bhojpuri.

"Access to information should be speeded up through the use of technology and the system should be implemented properly," added Nitish Kumar.

All of this sounds good. But how have conventional on-paper RTI applications fared in the state? Official figures aren't very promising. Out of around 500 applications sent to various departments, only 112 have been attended to so far. But the chief minister says that information will be provided at all costs.

"We've got no complaints to show that the conventional implementation of RTI is facing any impediments," he says.

With the new phone-in service, Bihar will become the first state in the country where RTI will be just a phone call away. And the hassles of processing an application can be ended altogether.