Applications to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Right to Information Act

In January 2009, The Centre for Internet and Society filed two separate Right to Information (RTI)applications with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), New Delhi. The firstapplication was addressed to Shri K. S. Sawhney, Director, MSJE, seeking informationon

• The utilization of 3% funds of each departmentof the Central Government towards welfare of disabled persons, as specifiedunder the eleventh five year plan from January 2008
• The detailed rules andguidelines and the monitoring mechanisms set up under each ministry as per thisplan
• Other RTI applications which had been previouslyfiled in this regard

The second application was also to the MSJEenquiring about measures taken to ensure that government websites were made accessible to persons with disabilities. Information was requested regarding

• The nature and outcome of surveys on government web sites for checkingaccessibility
• The criteria used for measuring accessibility
• Details of thecirculars issued to different departments and ministries in this regard.   

With regard to the first application, MSJE responded broadly that information pertaining to the allocationof funds should be obtained from the concerned ministries/departments, thePlanning Commission and the Ministry of Finance directly and not from them. The Ministrymentioned that the process of formulating guidelines was still underway andthat the Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities (CCPD), the Centraland State Governments were empowered to monitor the progress of the same. TheMinistry was silent on the enquiry about previous RTI applications filed inrelation to the above matter by other persons.

In response to the second application theMinistry wrote that communication regarding the provisions of the UNCRPD hadbeen circulated to all Ministries for implementation. The Ministry alsoadmitted that no efforts had been made in this direction and since the CCPD wasthe body which was responsible for checking the accessibility of somegovernment web sites, the application from CIS had been forwarded to CCPD forrelevant action.

To read the application on allotment of funds, click here; to read the departments response, click here.

To read the application on steps taken to ensure accessibility of government websites, click here; to read the departments response, click here.