Woman uses RTI to trace elusive ration card

Despite knowing that the card was ready in 2006 — the year when she had applied for it— the “callous” attitude of the Food and Supplies department kept the document from reaching Gupta. Harassed and tired of the futile chase,Gupta approached the Central Information Commission (CIC),which has ordered the department to hand over the card to Gupta by July 10.

Noting that Gupta’s story highlights the plight of many such persons whose efforts to gain their ration cards remain unending,Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi asked the public body to go digital in providing information about the status of the applications of ration and BPL cards.

“This incident shows the extremely callous attitude of a department that is meant to do public service. The department needs to comply with the provision of the RTI Act and put up details of those who apply for ration cards and BPL cards,the date on which the cards are given to them and the reasons for rejections,if any,on the website,” said Gandhi in a decision last week.

The CIC official was referring to Section-4 of the Act,which obligates a public body to maintain all its records duly catalogued,indexed and wherever possible,digitised,so as to facilitate the right to information.

Gupta’s ordeal began three years ago when she had applied for a ration card for her Safdarjung Enclave-based family in the name of Bimla Devi,her mother-in-law. Though she was informed that the card was ready,it never reached her. Subsequently,she was compelled to make numerous rounds of the office.

Up against a wall,Gupta filed a RTI application asking whether there was a delay in preparation of her ration card and if that was the case,name and designation of the officer responsible for the same.

The department initially replied that there was no delay in preparing her ration card and because she never came to collect it,it was returned to the headquarter. Later,as Gupta continued her RTI battle,the government agency said the card was not traceable and they had sent a duplicate application to Gupta.

During the hearing,Gupta also informed the CIC that her ration card was active and was probably being misused.

On this,Gandhi asked the department’s Public Information Officer (PIO) if the card could have been stolen. The officer,however,asked for time to search for the card again before submitting a conclusive reply.

Gandhi then directed the PIO to deliver the ration card personally to Bimla Devi before July 10 and also to file a police complaint for theft if it could not be traced.

“The PIO will send a compliance report with photocopies of the cards and police complaints to the Commission before July 20,” directed Gandhi.