Showing posts with label news paper deccan chroncile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news paper deccan chroncile. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Monday, September 19, 2011
DMK allotted plots after disbanding quota plan
Sep 19, 2011 - G. Jagannath | Age Correspondent | chennai
It has come to light that the previous DMK government allotted Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) plots to 20 persons under the government discretionary quota (GDQ) at Shollinganallur Phase-3 scheme on January 20, 2011, a week after GDQ was scrapped, as announced by the governor in his address to the Assembly.
According to the documents provided by the public information officer of TNHB’s Besant Nagar division, out of 82 allotments of plots and flats made under the GDQ since 2006, 20 were made on January 20 this year.
“The allotment is illegal since it was made after the governor’s announcement in the Assembly,” RTI activist V. Gopalakrishnan, who exposed the irregularities in the allotment of houses, flats and plots of the board under GDQ, said, demanding the cancellation of the allotments immediately.
In his customary address on January 7 this year, then governor Surjit Singh Barnala said, “The system of allotting houses and plots under the GDQ in vogue for the past several years in TNHB is being put to an end from today.” As per the system that was in vogue since 1979, 85 per cent of plots, flats or houses of the board was sold through draw of lots, which would be governed by the rules of reservation prescribed by the state government. The remaining 15 per cent was given through the GDQ.
One among the 82 beneficiaries in Shollinganallur was Union minister M.K. Alagiri’s son Dayanidhi, who got a 4,114 sq ft plot. State housing minister R. Vaithilingam told the Assembly recently that the board’s rules were violated to allot land worth `60.34 lakh at Shollinganallur to Dayan-idhi under “social worker category” on February 7, 2007. Mr Gopalakrishnan urged TNHB to cancel all the GDQ allotments after the governor’s address in January
It has come to light that the previous DMK government allotted Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) plots to 20 persons under the government discretionary quota (GDQ) at Shollinganallur Phase-3 scheme on January 20, 2011, a week after GDQ was scrapped, as announced by the governor in his address to the Assembly.
According to the documents provided by the public information officer of TNHB’s Besant Nagar division, out of 82 allotments of plots and flats made under the GDQ since 2006, 20 were made on January 20 this year.
“The allotment is illegal since it was made after the governor’s announcement in the Assembly,” RTI activist V. Gopalakrishnan, who exposed the irregularities in the allotment of houses, flats and plots of the board under GDQ, said, demanding the cancellation of the allotments immediately.
In his customary address on January 7 this year, then governor Surjit Singh Barnala said, “The system of allotting houses and plots under the GDQ in vogue for the past several years in TNHB is being put to an end from today.” As per the system that was in vogue since 1979, 85 per cent of plots, flats or houses of the board was sold through draw of lots, which would be governed by the rules of reservation prescribed by the state government. The remaining 15 per cent was given through the GDQ.
One among the 82 beneficiaries in Shollinganallur was Union minister M.K. Alagiri’s son Dayanidhi, who got a 4,114 sq ft plot. State housing minister R. Vaithilingam told the Assembly recently that the board’s rules were violated to allot land worth `60.34 lakh at Shollinganallur to Dayan-idhi under “social worker category” on February 7, 2007. Mr Gopalakrishnan urged TNHB to cancel all the GDQ allotments after the governor’s address in January
Friday, July 1, 2011
I-T returns not confidential: Official
Politicos I-T returns not confidential: Official
June 16, 2011
Deccan chroncile
June 15: Contrary to the common reasons cited to reject applications under the RTI Act for copies of I-T returns of assessees, a central public information officer (CPIO) attached to the chief commissioner of income tax said that the Income Tax Act has no provision to treat the returns filed by assessee as confidential. The I-T department had refused to disclose I-T returns filed by assessee including politicians stating that it is “private information”, “confidential or third party information”, “covered under fiduciary relationship”, “unwarranted invasion of privacy” and “does not involve public interest”.
The PIO stated this in reply to a RTI petition filed by a city-based activist C. Selvaraj. To a query on fiduciary relationship between officials of IT department and assessee, the PIO said, “There is no direct definition for “fiduciary relations” in I-T Act. The information relating to assessees can be supplied as per section 138 of I-T Act. Any authority that contravenes the section 138 in giving information is punishable under section 280 of the I-T Act. Further information respecting assessee is published as per section 287 of the act.”
The RTI Act clearly states that all the information, which cannot be denied to the State Legislature or the Parliament, shall not be denied to any person. When asked whether the IT department would provide the IT returns of assessee to the Parliament or the Assembly or not, the CPIO said, “The department is duty bound to supply any information sought by the legislative authorities such as the Parliament.” Right to information activist V. Gopalakrishnan, who unsuccessfully filed petitions seeking returns of various Tamil Nadu politicians including former chief minister M. Karunanidhi, former telecom minister A. Raja and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, said most of petitions were rejected on the basis that it was confidential or third party information.
“The replies given to Mr Selvaraj’s queries only shows that the public information officers in the I-T department are ignorant of their I-T Act.”
June 16, 2011
Deccan chroncile
June 15: Contrary to the common reasons cited to reject applications under the RTI Act for copies of I-T returns of assessees, a central public information officer (CPIO) attached to the chief commissioner of income tax said that the Income Tax Act has no provision to treat the returns filed by assessee as confidential. The I-T department had refused to disclose I-T returns filed by assessee including politicians stating that it is “private information”, “confidential or third party information”, “covered under fiduciary relationship”, “unwarranted invasion of privacy” and “does not involve public interest”.
The PIO stated this in reply to a RTI petition filed by a city-based activist C. Selvaraj. To a query on fiduciary relationship between officials of IT department and assessee, the PIO said, “There is no direct definition for “fiduciary relations” in I-T Act. The information relating to assessees can be supplied as per section 138 of I-T Act. Any authority that contravenes the section 138 in giving information is punishable under section 280 of the I-T Act. Further information respecting assessee is published as per section 287 of the act.”
The RTI Act clearly states that all the information, which cannot be denied to the State Legislature or the Parliament, shall not be denied to any person. When asked whether the IT department would provide the IT returns of assessee to the Parliament or the Assembly or not, the CPIO said, “The department is duty bound to supply any information sought by the legislative authorities such as the Parliament.” Right to information activist V. Gopalakrishnan, who unsuccessfully filed petitions seeking returns of various Tamil Nadu politicians including former chief minister M. Karunanidhi, former telecom minister A. Raja and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, said most of petitions were rejected on the basis that it was confidential or third party information.
“The replies given to Mr Selvaraj’s queries only shows that the public information officers in the I-T department are ignorant of their I-T Act.”
I-T returns not confidential: Official
Politicos I-T returns not confidential: Official
June 16, 2011
Deccan chroncile
June 15: Contrary to the common reasons cited to reject applications under the RTI Act for copies of I-T returns of assessees, a central public information officer (CPIO) attached to the chief commissioner of income tax said that the Income Tax Act has no provision to treat the returns filed by assessee as confidential. The I-T department had refused to disclose I-T returns filed by assessee including politicians stating that it is “private information”, “confidential or third party information”, “covered under fiduciary relationship”, “unwarranted invasion of privacy” and “does not involve public interest”.
The PIO stated this in reply to a RTI petition filed by a city-based activist C. Selvaraj. To a query on fiduciary relationship between officials of IT department and assessee, the PIO said, “There is no direct definition for “fiduciary relations” in I-T Act. The information relating to assessees can be supplied as per section 138 of I-T Act. Any authority that contravenes the section 138 in giving information is punishable under section 280 of the I-T Act. Further information respecting assessee is published as per section 287 of the act.”
The RTI Act clearly states that all the information, which cannot be denied to the State Legislature or the Parliament, shall not be denied to any person. When asked whether the IT department would provide the IT returns of assessee to the Parliament or the Assembly or not, the CPIO said, “The department is duty bound to supply any information sought by the legislative authorities such as the Parliament.” Right to information activist V. Gopalakrishnan, who unsuccessfully filed petitions seeking returns of various Tamil Nadu politicians including former chief minister M. Karunanidhi, former telecom minister A. Raja and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, said most of petitions were rejected on the basis that it was confidential or third party information.
“The replies given to Mr Selvaraj’s queries only shows that the public information officers in the I-T department are ignorant of their I-T Act.”
June 16, 2011
Deccan chroncile
June 15: Contrary to the common reasons cited to reject applications under the RTI Act for copies of I-T returns of assessees, a central public information officer (CPIO) attached to the chief commissioner of income tax said that the Income Tax Act has no provision to treat the returns filed by assessee as confidential. The I-T department had refused to disclose I-T returns filed by assessee including politicians stating that it is “private information”, “confidential or third party information”, “covered under fiduciary relationship”, “unwarranted invasion of privacy” and “does not involve public interest”.
The PIO stated this in reply to a RTI petition filed by a city-based activist C. Selvaraj. To a query on fiduciary relationship between officials of IT department and assessee, the PIO said, “There is no direct definition for “fiduciary relations” in I-T Act. The information relating to assessees can be supplied as per section 138 of I-T Act. Any authority that contravenes the section 138 in giving information is punishable under section 280 of the I-T Act. Further information respecting assessee is published as per section 287 of the act.”
The RTI Act clearly states that all the information, which cannot be denied to the State Legislature or the Parliament, shall not be denied to any person. When asked whether the IT department would provide the IT returns of assessee to the Parliament or the Assembly or not, the CPIO said, “The department is duty bound to supply any information sought by the legislative authorities such as the Parliament.” Right to information activist V. Gopalakrishnan, who unsuccessfully filed petitions seeking returns of various Tamil Nadu politicians including former chief minister M. Karunanidhi, former telecom minister A. Raja and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, said most of petitions were rejected on the basis that it was confidential or third party information.
“The replies given to Mr Selvaraj’s queries only shows that the public information officers in the I-T department are ignorant of their I-T Act.”
Monday, January 17, 2011
Facing allotment scams, state finally scraps GDQ
Facing allotment scams, state finally scraps GDQJanuary 8th, 2011
DC Correspondent
Jan. 7: The government has scrapped the government’s discretionary quota (GDQ) after coming in for severe criticism over irregularities in the allotment of house sites and houses of the Tamil Nadu House Board through the system.
In his address to the Assembly on Friday Governor S.S. Barnala said, “The system of allotting houses and plots under the GDQ in vogue for several years in TNHB is being put to an end from today.” The misuse of the discretionary powers in allotting prime land to scores of people including judges, relatives of politicians, bureaucrats and senior police officials came to light a month ago. Under the system, 15 per cent of the total houses and sites are allotted through the GDQ while the remaining are sold through lots from the public.
RTI activists exposed the scam on people obtaining prime land under the social worker and unblemished government servant categories through the GDQ. Chief minister M. Karunanidhi had maintained the mere allotment under GDQ was not wrong. He said the land was sold at market rate and the allottees were not given any price concession.
The government has fine-tuned the role of the TNHB to implement the massive housing at an affordable price. Mr Barnala said the poor and middle class in cities and towns could not buy homes due to high cost.
“The government has planned to construct houses and assign plots to lower and middle income groups in Chennai, its suburban areas and towns like Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchy, Erode and Hosur over 1,100 acres of TNHB lands at an affordable price,” he said.
DC Correspondent
Jan. 7: The government has scrapped the government’s discretionary quota (GDQ) after coming in for severe criticism over irregularities in the allotment of house sites and houses of the Tamil Nadu House Board through the system.
In his address to the Assembly on Friday Governor S.S. Barnala said, “The system of allotting houses and plots under the GDQ in vogue for several years in TNHB is being put to an end from today.” The misuse of the discretionary powers in allotting prime land to scores of people including judges, relatives of politicians, bureaucrats and senior police officials came to light a month ago. Under the system, 15 per cent of the total houses and sites are allotted through the GDQ while the remaining are sold through lots from the public.
RTI activists exposed the scam on people obtaining prime land under the social worker and unblemished government servant categories through the GDQ. Chief minister M. Karunanidhi had maintained the mere allotment under GDQ was not wrong. He said the land was sold at market rate and the allottees were not given any price concession.
The government has fine-tuned the role of the TNHB to implement the massive housing at an affordable price. Mr Barnala said the poor and middle class in cities and towns could not buy homes due to high cost.
“The government has planned to construct houses and assign plots to lower and middle income groups in Chennai, its suburban areas and towns like Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchy, Erode and Hosur over 1,100 acres of TNHB lands at an affordable price,” he said.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Right to [dis]informationDecember 7th, 2010
Right to [dis]informationDecember 7th, 2010
DC Correspondent
Chennai, Dec. 6: Right to Information (RTI) activists in Tamil Nadu face several hurdles in getting information from public information officers in government offices and what is worse is that three information commissioner posts are lying vacant despite the large backlog of RTI applications.
With the death of commissioner T.R. Ramasamy, the commission now has only three commissioners, Mr R. Perumalsamy, Mr T. Srinivasan and Ms Sarada Nambi Arooran led by state chief information commissioner K. S. Sripathy.
Of the sanctioned 10 posts of information commissioners, only five have been filled since the creation of the commission.
Mr N.R. Mohanram, a Salem-based RTI activist, said the Tamil Nadu state information commission was one of the badly run information commissions in the country. The TN commission does not implement several orders issued by the Union government and Central information commission.
“The TN information commission takes six to nine months to take up a petition for hearing. Such is the way of the commission. With the increasing pendency of cases, the work burden of the commissioners goes up and it would affect their performance,” he said.
The RTI commission functions on the first floor of Kamadhenu supermarket in Teynampet with very little space for officers and petitioners, besides minimum storage space for preserving records.
Mr A. Devaneyan, another RTI activist, said the commission lacks basic infrastructure including adequate space for petitioners to be seated. “There is no proper space for petitioners and public information officers to wait to attend the hearing. We have to stand inside the office, which makes it difficult for the commission staff to move inside the office. Petitioners have to wait outside or move around the office till their appeal is heard,” he said.
***
More disorder than order
Chennai, Dec. 6: RTI activists in the state complain that most of the state information commissioners violate the Right to Information Act by pronouncing misleading orders.
Mr B. Ramesh, an advocate who has been filing RTIs for a long time, said most of the orders delivered by state information commissioners violate the RTI Act.
There is no provision in the RTI Act for limiting the number of questions but the commissioners, without reading the Act, direct petitioners to restrict the number of questions.
“In most cases, commissioners do not summon the petitioner and the public information officer but direct the petitioner not to ask more questions, which violates the Act. Nobody knows how the commissioners take up cases for hearing. Some cases are heard six months to one year later but some other cases are taken up for hearing within a month,” he said.
RTI activist Arul Doss said, “I received eight letters from the commission describing my questions as ones which hamper the functioning of the public authority. I wanted to know how much the state government has allotted for the urban housing department and how much has been spent for development of the poor in the state. I don’t know how these questions will hinder the functioning of the PIO and the commissioners support PIOs by not providing the details,” he said.
with inputs from PRAMILA KRISHNAN
***
Distance keeps info out of reach
Chennai, Dec. 6: Even a year after the installation of video-conferencing facility at the Tamil Nadu state information commission (TNSIC), the facility was not put to use causing severe hardship to applicants from the southern districts.
The facility was installed by the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) at a cost of `15 lakh at the commission’s head office. The facility will be interlinked with the existing video-conferencing facility in other district headquarters.
Video-conferencing would come in handy for applicants from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Ooty and other distant places. Not only the applicants, even the information commissioners need not travel to the districts to hear the petitions.
The Central information commission in New Delhi has for more than three years been hearing cases from across India with the help of video-conferencing.
Vellore RTI activist M. Sivaraj said the proposal to instal video-conferencing facility was a very good one.
Unfortunately, the state government was not cooperating. When Mr S. Ramakrishnan was chief information commissioner, he prepared the proposal. But it now remains only on paper, he said.
He alleged that the state government did not want to implement these progressive projects because they do not want to implement the RTI Act in letter and spirit.
City-based RTI activist V. Madhav said, “The video-conferencing system was placed with much fanfare but it is not utilised. Petitioners from distant places are forced to come to Chennai to appear for the hearing. The video-conferencing system should be put to use as soon as possible in order to help the petitioners.”
Information commissioners who travel to various districts to hear petitions claim travel expenses, Mr V. Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist explained, adding that the TNSIC should make use of the facility to speed up disposal of petitions.
Attempts to contact state chief information commissioner K. Sripathi proved futile
DC Correspondent
Chennai, Dec. 6: Right to Information (RTI) activists in Tamil Nadu face several hurdles in getting information from public information officers in government offices and what is worse is that three information commissioner posts are lying vacant despite the large backlog of RTI applications.
With the death of commissioner T.R. Ramasamy, the commission now has only three commissioners, Mr R. Perumalsamy, Mr T. Srinivasan and Ms Sarada Nambi Arooran led by state chief information commissioner K. S. Sripathy.
Of the sanctioned 10 posts of information commissioners, only five have been filled since the creation of the commission.
Mr N.R. Mohanram, a Salem-based RTI activist, said the Tamil Nadu state information commission was one of the badly run information commissions in the country. The TN commission does not implement several orders issued by the Union government and Central information commission.
“The TN information commission takes six to nine months to take up a petition for hearing. Such is the way of the commission. With the increasing pendency of cases, the work burden of the commissioners goes up and it would affect their performance,” he said.
The RTI commission functions on the first floor of Kamadhenu supermarket in Teynampet with very little space for officers and petitioners, besides minimum storage space for preserving records.
Mr A. Devaneyan, another RTI activist, said the commission lacks basic infrastructure including adequate space for petitioners to be seated. “There is no proper space for petitioners and public information officers to wait to attend the hearing. We have to stand inside the office, which makes it difficult for the commission staff to move inside the office. Petitioners have to wait outside or move around the office till their appeal is heard,” he said.
***
More disorder than order
Chennai, Dec. 6: RTI activists in the state complain that most of the state information commissioners violate the Right to Information Act by pronouncing misleading orders.
Mr B. Ramesh, an advocate who has been filing RTIs for a long time, said most of the orders delivered by state information commissioners violate the RTI Act.
There is no provision in the RTI Act for limiting the number of questions but the commissioners, without reading the Act, direct petitioners to restrict the number of questions.
“In most cases, commissioners do not summon the petitioner and the public information officer but direct the petitioner not to ask more questions, which violates the Act. Nobody knows how the commissioners take up cases for hearing. Some cases are heard six months to one year later but some other cases are taken up for hearing within a month,” he said.
RTI activist Arul Doss said, “I received eight letters from the commission describing my questions as ones which hamper the functioning of the public authority. I wanted to know how much the state government has allotted for the urban housing department and how much has been spent for development of the poor in the state. I don’t know how these questions will hinder the functioning of the PIO and the commissioners support PIOs by not providing the details,” he said.
with inputs from PRAMILA KRISHNAN
***
Distance keeps info out of reach
Chennai, Dec. 6: Even a year after the installation of video-conferencing facility at the Tamil Nadu state information commission (TNSIC), the facility was not put to use causing severe hardship to applicants from the southern districts.
The facility was installed by the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) at a cost of `15 lakh at the commission’s head office. The facility will be interlinked with the existing video-conferencing facility in other district headquarters.
Video-conferencing would come in handy for applicants from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Ooty and other distant places. Not only the applicants, even the information commissioners need not travel to the districts to hear the petitions.
The Central information commission in New Delhi has for more than three years been hearing cases from across India with the help of video-conferencing.
Vellore RTI activist M. Sivaraj said the proposal to instal video-conferencing facility was a very good one.
Unfortunately, the state government was not cooperating. When Mr S. Ramakrishnan was chief information commissioner, he prepared the proposal. But it now remains only on paper, he said.
He alleged that the state government did not want to implement these progressive projects because they do not want to implement the RTI Act in letter and spirit.
City-based RTI activist V. Madhav said, “The video-conferencing system was placed with much fanfare but it is not utilised. Petitioners from distant places are forced to come to Chennai to appear for the hearing. The video-conferencing system should be put to use as soon as possible in order to help the petitioners.”
Information commissioners who travel to various districts to hear petitions claim travel expenses, Mr V. Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist explained, adding that the TNSIC should make use of the facility to speed up disposal of petitions.
Attempts to contact state chief information commissioner K. Sripathi proved futile
Thursday, June 24, 2010
endriya Vid yalaya schools in Tamil Nadu have not admitted a single student under the Right to Education (RTE) Act this academic year.
Deccan chroncile, chennai edition, 24/06/2010 page no.4Kendriya Vid yalaya schools in Tamil Nadu have not admitted a single student under the Right to Education (RTE) Act this academic year.
Even though 25 per cent of seats in KV schools have been reserved for the civil category for people living within a 3 km radius of the schools under the Right to Education Act, the response to an RTI query has revealed that no admissions were made under the quota in KVs in the state this year.
“The admissions are being made as per the KVS admission guidelines,” KVS public information officer said in reply to the RTI petition filed by activist V. Gopalakrishnan seeking information regarding admissions made under the RTE Act for classes 1 to 5 for the academic year 2010-11.
“Though the Act came into force from April 1 this year, the KVs which are
headed by the Union human resources development ministry have failed to implement the legislation," Mr Gopalakrishnan said."The indifferent attitude of the Central and the state government in implementing the Act defeats the very purpose of enacting legislation to make education a fundamental right of every child." It may be noted that Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal abolished the MPs' quota of nominating two students each for admission to the Kendriya Vidyalayas, but following the disapproval from some section of MPs, he restored it
Saturday, May 23, 2009
டொமெஸ்டிக் லப் மிசுசெது இன் city
Deccan chroncile, chennai edition, page no.6
(http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCC/2009/05/23/ArticleHtmls/23_05_2009_006_003.shtml?Mode=0#)
HOUSEHOLDS BLAME ERRATIC SUPPLY, SHORTAGE ON GAS SERVICE AGENCY OFFICIALS
Consumers across the city complain about errant gas service company officials who do not deliver domestic gas cylinders on time but provide the same regularly to street-side shops. It is obvious that most fast food stalls and well-known sweet shops in T Nagar, K K Nagar and Park are using domestic gas cylinders.
It is easy for food stalls to avail of the gas cylinders, say the consumers. Mr V.Gopalakrishnan of MGR Nagar, said, “Most shops in our area use domestic gas cylinders. Shop-owners cleverly keep an empty commercial cylinder outside but use domestic gas inside the shop. Whenever we seek the service providers for refilling the cylinder, they do not respond immediately and the supply of the cylinders is delayed for no reason.” “While my service provider sometimes refuses to even record my order, claiming there is ‘no stock’, the roadside restaurants always have gas cylinders.
My cylinder is delayed by 20 days even when there is stock,” says Ms Stella George, a housewife from Kodambakkam.
Ms Dhanam of K.K. Nagar said, “The service providers don’t inform the waiting list number over phone, but provide cylinders to food stalls without fail.” On inquiry, shop-owners admit that gas cylinders are easily available to them for Rs 500 per cylinder, which is cheaper than commercial gas cylinders.
When contacted, officials of the civil supplies and consumer protection department claimed that they conduct inspection every month. “So far, we have conducted more than 40 raids and seized over 3,600 cylinders from shops in the city in the past three years,” said the officials.
(http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCC/2009/05/23/ArticleHtmls/23_05_2009_006_003.shtml?Mode=0#)
HOUSEHOLDS BLAME ERRATIC SUPPLY, SHORTAGE ON GAS SERVICE AGENCY OFFICIALS
Consumers across the city complain about errant gas service company officials who do not deliver domestic gas cylinders on time but provide the same regularly to street-side shops. It is obvious that most fast food stalls and well-known sweet shops in T Nagar, K K Nagar and Park are using domestic gas cylinders.
It is easy for food stalls to avail of the gas cylinders, say the consumers. Mr V.Gopalakrishnan of MGR Nagar, said, “Most shops in our area use domestic gas cylinders. Shop-owners cleverly keep an empty commercial cylinder outside but use domestic gas inside the shop. Whenever we seek the service providers for refilling the cylinder, they do not respond immediately and the supply of the cylinders is delayed for no reason.” “While my service provider sometimes refuses to even record my order, claiming there is ‘no stock’, the roadside restaurants always have gas cylinders.
My cylinder is delayed by 20 days even when there is stock,” says Ms Stella George, a housewife from Kodambakkam.
Ms Dhanam of K.K. Nagar said, “The service providers don’t inform the waiting list number over phone, but provide cylinders to food stalls without fail.” On inquiry, shop-owners admit that gas cylinders are easily available to them for Rs 500 per cylinder, which is cheaper than commercial gas cylinders.
When contacted, officials of the civil supplies and consumer protection department claimed that they conduct inspection every month. “So far, we have conducted more than 40 raids and seized over 3,600 cylinders from shops in the city in the past three years,” said the officials.
Friday, May 15, 2009
ஆவின்
DC chennai edition, saturday 16may 2009 page no.5
“Everyday, the price of milk packet keeps changing.
Though I was ready to pay correct change, the salesmen have been demanding 50 paise everyday.”
Aavin milk pack ets are sold at a price higher than the MRP in various parts of the city. Though consumers lodged complaints with the complaint cell of Aavin, they did not receive any response.
Mr V. Gopal, a resident of MGR Nagar, said, “Everyday, the price of milk packet keeps changing. Though I was ready to pay correct change, the salesmen have been demanding 50 paise everyday. I have filed several complaints and did not receive any favourable response yet.” (55) of Madipakkam asked the retailer to return the change, he did not even respond. “Earlier, Aavin milk cost less than any other brand. Now, I am forced to bargain for correct change When Ms Vijayalakshmi everyday. I called the complaint cell. They assured to take action but I find no change in the retail shops.” Ms M.Vasanthi at Velachery, who has been buying Aavin milk for the past five years, said, “It is terrible to negotiate for 50 paise everyday. Though I give them correct change, they ask for 50 paise extra in the morning and evening.” Mr Vasu, public relations officer of Aavin, said, “Over 3,500 outlets are operating in the city. We have given strict warning to the retailer outlets and distributors.Weplan to inspect the shops and take action, if necessary.”
“Everyday, the price of milk packet keeps changing.
Though I was ready to pay correct change, the salesmen have been demanding 50 paise everyday.”
Aavin milk pack ets are sold at a price higher than the MRP in various parts of the city. Though consumers lodged complaints with the complaint cell of Aavin, they did not receive any response.
Mr V. Gopal, a resident of MGR Nagar, said, “Everyday, the price of milk packet keeps changing. Though I was ready to pay correct change, the salesmen have been demanding 50 paise everyday. I have filed several complaints and did not receive any favourable response yet.” (55) of Madipakkam asked the retailer to return the change, he did not even respond. “Earlier, Aavin milk cost less than any other brand. Now, I am forced to bargain for correct change When Ms Vijayalakshmi everyday. I called the complaint cell. They assured to take action but I find no change in the retail shops.” Ms M.Vasanthi at Velachery, who has been buying Aavin milk for the past five years, said, “It is terrible to negotiate for 50 paise everyday. Though I give them correct change, they ask for 50 paise extra in the morning and evening.” Mr Vasu, public relations officer of Aavin, said, “Over 3,500 outlets are operating in the city. We have given strict warning to the retailer outlets and distributors.Weplan to inspect the shops and take action, if necessary.”
Sunday, May 3, 2009
RTI activists use hi-tech gadgets in fight for rights
RTI activists use hi-tech gadgets in fight for rightsMay 3rd, 2009
By Our Correspondent Vellore, May 2: A number of RTI activists have turned tech-savvy by adopting high-end gadgets to exposae malpractices and corruption in the public and private sectors.
Nearly 20 to 30 activists in Chennai, Tiruvannamalai and Vellore districts have been using gadgets such as spy cam (pen and button type with 4 GB storage capacity), spy cam (antenna model) annexed in laptops, micro voice recorders, mobile camera and mobile video recorders.
“I have been using pen-type spy camera. I can record continuously for one-and-a-half hours as the tiny device comes with a rechargeable battery with 4 GB storage facility,” said Mr V. Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist, who exposed corruption in implementing welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office using the device.
The devices also play the role of self-protection gears for the activists, he said, adding, “When I filed an RTI application seeking information about the list of beneficiaries in welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office, two persons had approached and threatened me to withdraw the petition. But I recorded their speech using the pen-type spy camera without their knowledge and took the issue to higher officials and the police department.”
Mr Gopalakrishnan and three of his friends have also been using an antenna-type spy cam and static camera at a visiting room in their respective house or office. Mr Vinod Jain, member of FACT India, said the modern devices have been of great help to get justice. Around 10 co-members of the organisation have been using the devices during sting operations to expose malpractices, misuse of power and corruption in public and private sectors.
Lack of knowledge about the devices among the officials helps us to expose the corruption, he said. Finding the trendy spy cam handy to uncover malpractices and create crucial evidence to bring the truth to light, the activists and members of several NGOs are going for it.
By Our Correspondent Vellore, May 2: A number of RTI activists have turned tech-savvy by adopting high-end gadgets to exposae malpractices and corruption in the public and private sectors.
Nearly 20 to 30 activists in Chennai, Tiruvannamalai and Vellore districts have been using gadgets such as spy cam (pen and button type with 4 GB storage capacity), spy cam (antenna model) annexed in laptops, micro voice recorders, mobile camera and mobile video recorders.
“I have been using pen-type spy camera. I can record continuously for one-and-a-half hours as the tiny device comes with a rechargeable battery with 4 GB storage facility,” said Mr V. Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist, who exposed corruption in implementing welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office using the device.
The devices also play the role of self-protection gears for the activists, he said, adding, “When I filed an RTI application seeking information about the list of beneficiaries in welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office, two persons had approached and threatened me to withdraw the petition. But I recorded their speech using the pen-type spy camera without their knowledge and took the issue to higher officials and the police department.”
Mr Gopalakrishnan and three of his friends have also been using an antenna-type spy cam and static camera at a visiting room in their respective house or office. Mr Vinod Jain, member of FACT India, said the modern devices have been of great help to get justice. Around 10 co-members of the organisation have been using the devices during sting operations to expose malpractices, misuse of power and corruption in public and private sectors.
Lack of knowledge about the devices among the officials helps us to expose the corruption, he said. Finding the trendy spy cam handy to uncover malpractices and create crucial evidence to bring the truth to light, the activists and members of several NGOs are going for it.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
CORRUPTION INFO SEEKER THREATENED IN CHENNAI
●CORRUPTION INFO SEEKER THREATENED IN CHENNAI on Deccan Chroncile dated 23/3/09
page no.6
A RTI petitionto seek information about distribution of financial assistance under various welfare schemes like old and widow pensions to the beneficiaries in Vellore taluk limit has invited goons for the help of revenue officials to hush up the petitioner.
Having come to know about malpractices in implementing welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office, an RTI activist and resident of Chennai, V. Gopalakrishnan, petitioned the public information officer (PIO) of Vellore tahsildar office seeking details about the list of beneficiaries of the welfare schemes. The petition was filed on February 11 this year.
The petitioner urged that he be furnished a photocopy of the application, enquiry records, reports of village administration officer (VAO) and revenue inspector (RI), office note and sanction order in respect of the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes from October 2008 to January 2009.
This includes pensions to physical handicapped, OAPs and widows.
When he sent the reply to Gopalakrishnan asking him to remit Rs 21,608 to get the details, tashildar S. Thangavelu may have violated the RTIO Act as he was not the PIO or authenticating official to reply to the RTI petition. Following the letter on March 12, two persons claiming to be real estate dealers allegedly came to the petitioner’s house and working place in Chennai.
They informed Gopalakrishnan that they were sent by Vaniyambadi tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar, who was then SSS tashildar in Vellore during the period for which the petitioner sought the information.
They threatened him of dire consequence, if he did not withdraw the RTI petition.
“The two had also been to my house when I was not there. Telling me that Sharmila Jayakumar has sent them, the two said we could arrive at an amicable solution. I have video proof of the threat,” said the petitioner, adding that he immediately mailed the chief minister’s cell, chief information commissioner of Tamil Nadu information commission and district collector on the incident seeking protection for him and his family.
Meantime, an application was filed under RTI Act by his cousin Laxmanan urging the district administration to furnish the details about the properties of Tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar on February 9. But no reply has been provided till date, he said. District collector C.Rajendran said, “I will enquire into the matter and take appropriate action against errant officials.”
page no.6
A RTI petitionto seek information about distribution of financial assistance under various welfare schemes like old and widow pensions to the beneficiaries in Vellore taluk limit has invited goons for the help of revenue officials to hush up the petitioner.
Having come to know about malpractices in implementing welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office, an RTI activist and resident of Chennai, V. Gopalakrishnan, petitioned the public information officer (PIO) of Vellore tahsildar office seeking details about the list of beneficiaries of the welfare schemes. The petition was filed on February 11 this year.
The petitioner urged that he be furnished a photocopy of the application, enquiry records, reports of village administration officer (VAO) and revenue inspector (RI), office note and sanction order in respect of the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes from October 2008 to January 2009.
This includes pensions to physical handicapped, OAPs and widows.
When he sent the reply to Gopalakrishnan asking him to remit Rs 21,608 to get the details, tashildar S. Thangavelu may have violated the RTIO Act as he was not the PIO or authenticating official to reply to the RTI petition. Following the letter on March 12, two persons claiming to be real estate dealers allegedly came to the petitioner’s house and working place in Chennai.
They informed Gopalakrishnan that they were sent by Vaniyambadi tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar, who was then SSS tashildar in Vellore during the period for which the petitioner sought the information.
They threatened him of dire consequence, if he did not withdraw the RTI petition.
“The two had also been to my house when I was not there. Telling me that Sharmila Jayakumar has sent them, the two said we could arrive at an amicable solution. I have video proof of the threat,” said the petitioner, adding that he immediately mailed the chief minister’s cell, chief information commissioner of Tamil Nadu information commission and district collector on the incident seeking protection for him and his family.
Meantime, an application was filed under RTI Act by his cousin Laxmanan urging the district administration to furnish the details about the properties of Tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar on February 9. But no reply has been provided till date, he said. District collector C.Rajendran said, “I will enquire into the matter and take appropriate action against errant officials.”
‘Arbitrary exemptions’ to RTI February 2nd, 2009 By Our Corresponden
Feb.1: The exemption of as many as 33 agencies in the home and public departments from the purview of the Right to Information Act in Tamil Nadu defeats the very objective of the law enacted to promote transparency and accountability of public authority, say RTI activists.
Founder of the anti-corruption awareness movement, M. Sivaraj said the exemption of the home and public department, civil supplies CID and directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption was arbitrary.
“Even the Centre had not totally exempted the Home and Public departments including the files related to the transfers and promotion of IAS and IPS officers. But the Tamil Nadu government is the only government which is making injurious exemption to the RTI Act,” he said. The DVAC and state vigilance commission dealt with corruption cases involving government officials and the exemption would benefit corrupt officials, he said.
“As per section 8 (H) of the RTI Act, disclosure of information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension and prosecution of offenders is exempted. There is no point in exempting DVAC and SVC from the act completely,” he said adding that every investigation department has an administrative wing, which should not be exempted from the act. V. Gopalakrishnan of Fifth Pillar said the Centre had exempted only 18 intelligence and security organisations from the RTI Act.
“The state should reconsider the exemption given to so many agencies from the RTI Act,” he said.
Founder of the anti-corruption awareness movement, M. Sivaraj said the exemption of the home and public department, civil supplies CID and directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption was arbitrary.
“Even the Centre had not totally exempted the Home and Public departments including the files related to the transfers and promotion of IAS and IPS officers. But the Tamil Nadu government is the only government which is making injurious exemption to the RTI Act,” he said. The DVAC and state vigilance commission dealt with corruption cases involving government officials and the exemption would benefit corrupt officials, he said.
“As per section 8 (H) of the RTI Act, disclosure of information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension and prosecution of offenders is exempted. There is no point in exempting DVAC and SVC from the act completely,” he said adding that every investigation department has an administrative wing, which should not be exempted from the act. V. Gopalakrishnan of Fifth Pillar said the Centre had exempted only 18 intelligence and security organisations from the RTI Act.
“The state should reconsider the exemption given to so many agencies from the RTI Act,” he said.
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