India Right To Information

Right to Information helped the HIV+ patients to get their pension in Gop Block of Puri District in Orissa. Pension was released from Jan to May '08 for all the HIV+s of Gop Block (Number hidden) but was not given to them due to irresponsibility of concerned officials of the Block Office. If any of the HIV+ patients or their relative / representatives were coming to Block office for pension, the officials were avoiding them with different clues. When one of the RTI Activist came to know about this unhealthy practice of officials, he applied under RTI Act to know the reason of this quietness on 18th Nov, 2008. In reply of this application the PIO informed that within 15th Dec '08 pension has been given to all of the HIV+s through the concerned VLWs of their GPs at their doorstep & has assured that in future their pension will be given as earliest. This single RTI application helped the HIV+ patients to get pension & also rectified practice of officials. Its also informed that till date the HIV+s have received pension of the period up to May '08. The pension of rest of the months have not sanctioned by the admn till yet.

N.A.Shah Ansari
Young India,
Konark, Orissa