Even though there is High Court order in their favour, the members of BPl families in Kalahandi district are still paying fees for collection of information through the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005.
Several instances of the Public Information Officers (PIOs) asking charges from BPl members for supply of RTI information to them have come to the fore.
Ricksha Majhi, a BPl person from Kardapadar village, had applied for information under RTI Act from the PIO of Agriculture officer of Thuamul Rampur block. After some days, Majhi received an intimation letter asking him to deposit `2000 for the production of the required information. Thuogh, Majhi told the concerned PIO about the HC order and requested him to supply the information free of cost, he is yet to be responded.
Similarly, Dhoba Sahu, another BPl person from Dabriguda village had applied for some information on PDS distribution in Kerpai gram panchayat under the Act from the PIO of Block Development Officer of the same block. He also received a similar letter asking for `2000 for supply of information. Sahu has appraised the matter to the Kalahandi district Collector in written.
It may be noted that the HC had on July 2, 2013, while hearing a PIl filed by one Kunja Bihari Patra of Dasapalla, directed the Odisha Information Commission to supply information to BPl members free-of-cost under Section 7 subsection 5 of the RTI Act.
While six months have already passed since the HC order, fee collection from the BPl members in the district has worried the poor people of the block.