Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme: Eye opener!

Central Information Commission
Appeal No CIC/WB/A/2007/00308 dated 22-2-2007
Right to Information Act 2008-Section 19

Appellant: Maj PM Ravindran (Retd)
Respondent: Director (Media) Min of Def (MoD)

Facts
Maj (Retd) PM Ravindran of Klapathy, Kerala moved and RTI dt 31-3-06 for follow of his request for information regarding details of Polyclinics together with their address and type and 22 other classification in a performa. To this he received a reply on 27-4-06 from Col S Thapar, Director (Media) refusing the information on the following grounds:

"Information sought by you vide your above quoted application cannot be provided as the same is not being complied and hence not readily available."

Aggrieved by this response Maj Ravindran moved his first appeal again before the Director (Media) but requesting that it be forwarded to the Appellate Authority as follows:

(a) "As per para 2, chapter 7 of the information brochure issued by the Central Organisation of ECHS, that it is the Central organisation ECHS, Organisation has been tasked to ensure efficient administration, liaison with MoD, issue policy guidelines, procurement and release of funds/ medicines/ equipment and to ensure smooth treatment and incident free medicare, through 'oversight and vigilance' system".

(b) The data I had sought pertains to the above task, especially 'procurement and release of funds/ medicines/ equipment, and to ensure smooth treatment and incident free medicare, through a proper 'oversight and vigilance' system".

(c) The authorities cannot deny me the information sought on the ground that it is not compiled by them as maintenance of such data is an essential part of discharging their task.

This appeal may please be forwarded to the appellate authority under RTI Act who is requested to kindly direct the Managing Director, ECHS to provide the information sought without further delay.

Tailpiece: It appears there was no response. After Maj PM Ravindran moved his second appeal. There was lukewarm response by Lt Col AR Prabakhar, JSO-1(Appeals). His reply mainly centered on already available data or saying all other data are available with local Station Headquarters. If this the attitude, status and working of Defence Forces organisation, what we can expect from other welfare organisations?
ECHS

We thank Maj PM Ravindran in enlightening us on functioning of ECHS. ESM should increasing follow the example of Maj PM Ravindran, by resorting to RTI to fight for their rights and reduce corruption in all our Defence related Welfare organisations.
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