Budget 2019: RTI Propagation Funds Slashed By About 38%
The funds allocated for RTI dropped by Rs 3.5 crore.
Funds for propagation of the right to information have been slashed by over 38 percent in the Union Budget 2019-20 as compared to last fiscal's allocation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an allocation of Rs 5.5 crore for the 'CIC and RTI' as compared to Rs 9 crore allocated in the budget for 2018-19.
The allocation is a dip of Rs 3.5 crore or about 38.8 percent. In last year’s budget, Rs 7 crore was earmarked for the CIC and the RTI, but it was revised to Rs 9 crore. The allocation is for the Department of Personnel and Training's propagation of the RTI Act, the budget document said.
The CIC has also received funds under a separate head of 'CIC and PESB' with an increase of 9.36 percent from the last budget. It has been allocated Rs 32.01 crore as compared to Rs 29.27 crore last year. This provision is for “establishment-related expenditure of Public Enterprises Selection Board and Central Information Commission”, the document said.