Monday, June 2, 2014

Appointment of PIOs for Ombudsman’s office hailed



BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA) has appreciated the initiative of the State Government for appointing of public information officers (PIOs) in the office of Ombudsman in all the districts under the Right to Information Act.

Notably, Ombudsman, a grievance redressal body working in all districts, has been constituted by the State to inquire into complaints or grievances relating to corruption and irregularities in the implementation of the MGNREGA in Odisha.

In a circular released by the Panchayati Raj Department of the State on May 13 this year, it has been stated that in pursuance of section 5(1) of the RTI Act, the additional Project Director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), (Administration) has been designated as PIO for the Office of Ombudsman and Project Director, DRDA as First Appellate Authority.

As per Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the RTI Act, each public authority shall designate an officer as PIO who will be responsible for receiving applications and providing the information within stipulated time period. The citizens desirous of getting information shall address and submit RTI Application to the PIO only. The PIO plays an important role under the RTI Act.

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