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What is RTI?
What is RTI?
The Right to Information Act, 2005, gives every Indian citizen the right to request information from any public authority (central or state government bodies), which must provide it within a specified time, unless the information is exempt from disclosure. You can ask for records, documents, emails, reports, advice, contracts, and other details related to government operations.
How Does RTI Help Labour and Common People?
How Does RTI Help Labour and Common People?
1. Empowerment and Awareness
RTI allows workers and ordinary citizens to know about government schemes, welfare programs, and their rights.
Labourers can verify their entitlements in government-aided works and schemes like NREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act).
2. Prevents Exploitation
Labourers can check details of wages, payments, and benefits released under government schemes, reducing chances of corruption.
Anyone can seek reasons for denial of pensions, ration cards, employment, or other government benefits.
3. Ensures Accountability
If funds or resources meant for the people (such as subsidies, compensation, or pensions) are delayed or not received, RTI can uncover where the bureaucratic delay or diversion occurred.
Workers can ask for copies of muster rolls, payment records, or details about contract workers in public projects.
4. Social Justice
RTI helps marginalized groups—like daily wage labourers, rural families, and slum dwellers—demand fair and just treatment in welfare-related matters.
Many grassroots movements (like the Right to Food Campaign) have used RTI to fight for dues and accountability, empowering entire communities.
5. Redressal of Grievances
Common people can demand the status of their complaints, applications, or grievances filed with government departments and get answers within a definite time.
Example:
A labourer who worked on a government road project but didn’t get wages can file an RTI to the relevant department asking for the list of payments made, dates, and beneficiaries. This helps expose misappropriation or delays and ensures workers receive their rightful wages.
In Summary
In Summary
RTI empowers everyone—especially the poor and working class—to question the government, demand their rights, keep authorities accountable, and ensure that benefits and schemes reach the intended people.
Useful RTI Portals
Useful RTI Portals
Central Government Online RTI Portal:
https://rtionline.gov.in
This is the official portal to file RTI applications and first appeals online with Central Government ministries and departments. Payment can be made through internet banking, debit/credit cards, RuPay, and UPI. Do not use this portal for State Government RTIs.Central Information Commission:
https://cic.gov.inUttar Pradesh Online RTI Portal:
https://rtionline.up.gov.inUttar Pradesh State Information Commission:
https://upic.gov.in
https://upsic.up.gov.in/cispu/
How to File Online RTI: Video Guides
How to File Online RTI: Video Guides
How to File an Online RTI Application:
Watch step-by-step instructions here:
https://youtu.be/vjtqub5MDSUHow to File First Appeal in RTI:
Video guide: https://youtu.be/F8SHtk0s7gwHow to File Second Appeal in Central Information Commission:
Instructional video: https://youtu.be/W2rpFdQFWatch "Representative Hearings of the Central Information Commission" (with CIC Shailesh Gandhi):
https://youtu.be/hSZYfKmPoiM
Tips:
Tips:
Only file RTI applications to Central Government authorities through the central portal.
For state-level RTI queries (e.g., Uttar Pradesh), use the respective state portal.
Carefully review instructions on the portals before submitting your request or appeal.
These resources will help you initiate, appeal, and understand the RTI process effectively.
State/UT
RTI Online Application Portal
State Information Commission (SIC) Portal
Andhra Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Not available/Physical only
Assam
Not available/Physical only
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Goa
Gujarat
https://rtionline.gujarat.gov.in
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Not available/Physical only
Jharkhand
https://jhrti.jharkhand.gov.in
Karnataka
https://rtionline.karnataka.gov.in
Kerala
https://rtiportal.kerala.gov.in
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
https://rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in
Manipur
Not available/Physical only
Meghalaya
Not available/Physical only
Mizoram
Not available/Physical only
Nagaland
Not available/Physical only
Odisha (Orissa)
http://orissasoochanacommission.nic.in
Punjab
https://rtionline.punjab.gov.in
Rajasthan
https://rtionline.rajasthan.gov.in
Sikkim
Not available/Physical only
Tamil Nadu
Telangana
Tripura
https://rtionline.tripura.gov.in
Uttar Pradesh
https://upsic.up.gov.in/cispu/
Uttarakhand
West Bengal
Delhi (NCT)
https://rtionline.delhi.gov.in
Jammu & Kashmir
Ladakh
Not available/Physical only
Under J&K SIC, as per current administrative arrangement
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
https://rtionline.andaman.gov.in
No standalone SIC (Central RTI Act applies)
Chandigarh (UT)
No standalone SIC (Central RTI Act applies)
Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
No standalone SIC (Central RTI Act applies)
Lakshadweep
Not available/Physical only
No standalone SIC (Central RTI Act applies)
Puducherry
No standalone SIC (Central RTI Act applies)
Key Notes:
The above links correspond to official RTI online application portals (where available) and the SIC (State Information Commission) portals of each state/UT.
Some North-Eastern states and smaller UTs do not have an online portal for RTI applications; physical applications are used.
Not all states have SICs with comprehensive online complaint/appeal features; some only provide information and manual status updates.
The Central RTI portal (https://rtionline.gov.in) does not accept applications for state government departments.
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