Govt keen to bring in pvt firms to help in RTI info dissemination

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Govt-keen-to-bring-in-pvt-firms-to-help-in-RTI-info-dissemination-/articleshow/4934285.cms


Govt keen to bring in pvt firms to help in RTI info dissemination

Vishwa Mohan, TNN 26 August 2009, 01:53am IST

NEW DELHI: The government is keen to bring in private firms as partners to help in dissemination of information under different ministries under the Right to Information Act.

The selected company will also suggest additional categories of information which can be "proactively" disclosed by different agencies and a number of multinational companies (MNCs) like PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and Grant Thornton are already in a queue to try and bag this prized assignment.

The ministry of personnel recently invited them along with three others -- JPS Associates, PRIA and Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad -- to explain what their exact role would be as "knowledge partner" of the government. The six companies have been shortlisted as potential "knowledge partners".

Once selected for the job, the private firm will help the government in assessing the functioning of different ministries regarding dissemination of information under the RTI Act.

Sources in the ministry said the selected company will also conduct a detailed study on proactive disclosure, besides finding out how the different State Information Commissions (SICs) are doing their work under centrally sponsored schemes.

"The consultant is also required to analyse the quantitative as well as qualitative disclosure under Section 4 of a public authority and accordingly suggest methods, tools and policy interventions required for better implementation of statutory requirements. They may also suggest further categories of information which can be proactively disclosed," said a senior official.