The Prime Minister's Office was flooded with more than 10 lakh petitions between June 1, 2014 and January 31, 2016, according to an RTI response. Apart from these petitions, the PMO also received 35 RTI applications per day.
An RTI applicant Aseem Takyar sought to know the total number of complaints, grievances, petitions received by the Prime Minister's Office since May 1, 2014 till now to which PMO said the information is "too vague and wide".
"It may, however, be informed that during the period June 1, 2014 to January 31, 2016 approximately 10 lakh petitions have been processed in PMO," the RTI response said. It said a large number of letters including complaints, petitions are received in the public wing of PMO daily.
"These are scrutinised and non-actionable petitions are filed and those actionable are forwarded to concerned authorities for action as appropriate. Those which require consideration by Prime Minister/Senior officers are sent to them for taking a view in the matter. However, data is not maintained regarding number of complaints/petitions read personally by PM," the response said. During 2014-15, the PMO had received over 12,500 RTI applications which is about 35 applications per day, according to annual report of the Central Information Commission. The entire central government and its departments had received over 86,000 RTI applications during the year, which is less than one per cent of the all the petitions, grievances etc. Received by the PMO alone during the 20-month period, it said.
A number of RTI queries have been directed to the PMO, mainly filed by workers of opposition parties which include the details of wishes extended by the PM to countrymen on Bakrid, Baravafat, Eid Ul Fitr, reported election promise of `15 lakh to be deposited in citizen's accounts, travel expense details, speed of internet in PMO among others.