GIC may soon have a building of its own

AHMEDABAD: After being made to function from the first floor of Bureau of Economics and Statistics for three years, Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) may soon have a building of its own and resources to improve its working, including video-conferencing facilities.
In 2005, when the Right to Information (RTI) Act came into effect the state government's general administration department (GAD) had asked the Central government for Rs 200 crore for its implementation in the state.
Now, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) under the central ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions is framing a centrally sponsored plan scheme (CSPS) to promote RTI. This scheme has received 'in principle' approval from the planning commission as well.
CSPS envisages four initiatives, strengthening and capacity building of RTI divisions of state information commission (SIC) as well as of DoPT, training of stakeholders, awareness and educational programmes. A detailed project report is being prepared before placing the scheme before expenditure finance committee for approval.
According to sources in GAD, state government had 'in principle' agreed to the scheme.
Along with funding for the building, a one-time grant would also be given to SIC by DoPT for IT related services such as computerisation, installation of video-conferencing facilities and digitisation of records. Also on the cards is training of staff of SIC and giving access to reference material for four years.
Funds would be released to SIC on the basis of proposals received from them. A grant-in-aid committee would scrutinise the proposals and grants would be released in two instalments.