See Joining instructions at the end of this page

What is Practical RTI?

1. An online real-time discussion where participants can learn how to use RTI and discuss happenings in the world of RTI.
2. Make participants self-reliant in using RTI.
3. Beginners and experts will share on same platform. In the discussions, there is no hierarchy, or hand-me-down approach, or asking for help in mai-baap style. People will get guidance, and it is up to each participant to walk that path to reach the goal. No one else can do it for you.
4. People are supposed to use this knowledge to go ahead and file RTIs, first appeals, second appeals, complaints etc.
5. No certificates etc will be given by participation in this course.  If you are interested in official certification in RTI, try doing online certificate course at http://rtiocc.cgg.gov.in/login.do

What are the goals of Practical RTI?

Participants can get practical information like:

1. Whether their problem can be addressed using RTI?
2. How to decide the right public authority on whom to file RTI?
3. How to frame the questions for information.
4. Whether to file first appeal, complaint, none, or both?
5. Share real life examples of RTI with others which can throw light on latest trends about attitudes of public authorities, PIOs, tips/techniques to follow, tricks being used by PIOs etc.

Guidelines of Practical RTI sessions

Dos

1. Preferably, read up on basic RTI before coming to session at resources on "Practical RTI" sessions.
2. Keep the discussions simple, avoiding RTI jargon except where necessary to learn or explain a point.
3. Login to the online session 5 minutes before the start time, so that any internet problem etc does not delay your entry into session.
4. With multiple people on instant messaging/chat, it can become confusing to keep track of who said what, in response to which point before. So write a full sentence and send it, instead of writing only 2-3 words each time and sending it each time. This will be taken as hogging chat bandwidth, and you may be kicked out.
5. This RTI session is not to be used as a news broadcasting service. So do not use the forum to share latest news on RTI, except where you want to follow up with some action you or others can take on that. E.g. if you say a new amendment is being proposed to dilute RTI, then be prepared to take action to sign petition, or send letters to PM to oppose that amendment. If you don’t want to do those things, then don’t share such news. Many people on forum will be aware of these things anyway, and most likely will have taken some action too.
6. Beginners should try to ask more questions, and experts should try to listen more.
7. Do not hog all the air time. Give others a chance to ask or reply. This applies to beginners and experts alike.
8. Finish greeting others like Namaste, Good Evening, Hello, Hi etc before the session starts. Especially if you join the session late, then do not go into wishing hi etc to everyone who is already logged in. You may be kicked out.

Don’ts

1. Do not throw around complex RTI jargon, section numbers of RTI Act, citations of CIC/SIC judgments with sole idea of impressing other participants. Write your own blog for that purpose!
2. Do not spend endlessly time whether this option is better or that option is better, without any desire or goal to actually file an RTI at all. If you are still in doubt, then file RTI first and wait for reply.  Then you can discuss about the reply received in following RTI sessions.

Joining Instructions (session on 4th Jul/Sun, 5 pm)

1. The online discussion requires use of Gmail group chat.  So you will need to use a gmail id.  If you do not have one already, then you can create one at http://mail.google.com.
2. Send me email at vivek DOT deveshwar AT gmail DOT com to confirm your participation from the same gmail account you plan to use to join the online session.  I will add your gmail id to the contacts list to invite.
3. Log in into gmail 5 minutes before start of session, so login at 4:55 pm on Sat 26th Jun.  This will enable your account to be seen as online rather than offline, and is necessary to send an invite to you.