Launch of online RTI in last phase

KOCHI: The launching of RTI services online in the state is in its last phase. In an effort to speed up thousands of pending applications, the State IT Mission  will launch the project at the General Administration Department (GAD) in the Secretariat.All the processing has been completed. The GAD staff have been trained and digital signatures have been given to public information officers of all departments and the software has been tried and tested. Only, the switching on ceremony, is awaited, said sources.A policy decision is awaited on the fee. A fee of Rs 10 has to be paid for all electronic delivery of service and RTI filing also requires a court fee stamp of Rs10 for applying to govt departments and as cash for departments under PSU  taking the total fee to Rs 20. Either Rs 10 should be waived or a GO of levying Rs 20 should be issued. To validate the stamp the application should be scanned and sent.The State Information Commission, IT Mission,  IT Sec and the Revenue Department are holding discussions to sort out the issue.   RTI can be filed online through Akshaya centres.