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Mirzapur.

Mirzapur. A case of information sought under the Right to Information Act 2005 not being available on time has come to light. Public Information Officer, District Magistrate, Mirzapur to ask for detailed details of the development works and financial transactions done from the financial year 2021-22 to 2024-25 in Gram Panchayat Sikta of Development Block Halia.

RTI application was given. In the application, a demand was made to provide certified copies of various records including year-wise list of all the development works done in the Gram Panchayat, name of the work, location, approval number, date of start and completion.

In the RTI application, complete details of the amount sanctioned, amount spent and payment for each development work and a certified copy of the Measurement Book (MB) have been sought. Along with this, the name and address of the contractor, firm or organization carrying out the work and details of payment made to them have also been sought. Records to the list and selection process of beneficiaries of schemes like MNREGA, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Hand Pump, Street Light, Khadanja and drain construction have also been sought.

In the application, bill-vouchers of materials purchased from Panchayat fund, state finance and 15th Finance Commission, proceedings register of Gram Panchayat meetings and bank statement of the total amount received in the Panchayat account from the year 2021-22 to 2024-25 and item-wise expenditure have also been sought. Besides, a demand has been made to provide certified copy of the quality and technical investigation report of the work done.

The applicant says that through RTI, information to the development works done with public money and the amount spent was sought, but despite the prescribed procedure, questions are being raised due to non-availability of information. In the application, a request was made to provide information as per rules and it was also said to inform the applicant if there are additional fees.

Now the biggest question in the matter is that when records to Gram Panchayat's development works, payments and use of government funds have been sought under RTI, then why is there a delay in providing the information by the concerned department? The objective of the Right to Information is to ensure transparency and accountability in government functioning. In such a situation, if information is not received, it is natural that various questions will arise among the villagers.

The villagers demand that an impartial investigation should be conducted into the matter and complete details of the development works done and government funds spent in Gram Panchayat Sikta from the financial year 2021-22 to 2024-25 should be made public.