Dr. Jitendra Singh Addresses 13th Annual General Body Meeting of NFICI

The Minister commended the Central Information Commission (CIC) for its efficiency, citing nearly 100 percent disposal of RTI appeals and a reduction in pendency.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh delivered a key address and engaged in discussions with Central and State Information Commissioners at the 13th Annual General Body Meeting of the National Federation of Information Commissions of India (NFICI) held at the Central Information Commission headquarters today.

Advancing RTI: Dr. Singh praised NFICI’s role in promoting the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, emphasizing its alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of "Maximum Governance, Minimum Governance." He highlighted that the Act aims for maximum disclosure with minimal exemptions.

Global Role Model: The Minister noted that India's Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPRAMS) has become a model for grievance redressal worldwide, achieving resolution times as short as 5 days due to technological integration.

Integration of AI: Dr. Singh urged Information Commissioners to incorporate Artificial Intelligence and modern tools to enhance the efficiency of public information disclosure. He also stressed the need for human intervention and feedback mechanisms, recalling the establishment of a Human Desk for post-grievance feedback.

Efficiency in Disposal: The Minister commended the Central Information Commission (CIC) for its efficiency, citing nearly 100 percent disposal of RTI appeals and a reduction in pendency. He acknowledged the CIC’s continued functionality during the COVID-19 pandemic and the benefits provided by the new office complex since 2014.

Support for J&K: Dr. Singh recognized the positive impact of opening a CIC branch in Jammu and Kashmir, which has facilitated easier access to RTI services for residents.

Updates from CIC Officials:

Chief Information Commissioner Heeralal Samariya reported steady progress with nearly 17,000 second appeals being resolved annually.

Secretary CIC Mrs. Rashmi Chowdhary provided updates on new initiatives undertaken by the Information Commissions.

Dr. Singh concluded his address by encouraging young officers of CIC to be the torchbearers of Vision 2047, reinforcing their role as custodians of transparency and accountability.