So many !

Baby steps to the RTI World !

It was in late 2006 when I got a deep urge to find out how the Right to Information Act was being implemented in Orissa state. Being familiar with the forest department due to my wildlife conservation work I thought let me start at home ! Trooping down to the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, I sought to track down the Public Information Officer (PIO), a designated officer in every govt. office who is supposed to accept the applications and also assist the applicant to get information smoothly.

After a lot of difficult I could locate him. The PIO was  an elderly Assistant Conservator of Forests who had a hidden office situated on the 2nd floor deep behind the main office ! I wondered how a senior citizen could make the effort of climbing three flights of stairs to meet this person!

He peered at me with a frown which screamed aloud that I was unwelcome! Very reluctantly, he took out the receipt book and started scribbling the receipts for the application fee of Rs.10 for each form. However, before that he carefully read all the forms and raised his eyebrows a number of times exclaiming aloud..........."you have sought a lot of information!" I smiled back sweetly and said...... "You are right ! I am deeply interested in your department and would love to know how you work!" . 

I came away with feelings of uncertainity about how much information I would actually get. This was sometime in September,2006 and would start off my insatiable quest for information ! 

Biswajit Mohanty