The Right to Information Act, 2005
Ali Yavar Jung
National Institute For The Hearing Handicapped
(Autonomous organization under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India)
Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (West), Mumbai – 400 050
Telephone: 91–22–26422638, EPABX: 26400215/226/228
Fax: 91–22–26404170, E–mail: ayjnihh@vsnl.com
Visit us on: http://ayjnihh.nic.in
The Right to Information Act, 2005
Implementation of provisions of Section 4 (1) (b)
Introduction
- The particulars of NIHH, its organization, function and duties;
Details are enclosed in Appendix–I - The powers and duties of its officers and employees;
Details enclosed at Appendix–II - The procedure followed in decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;
Action on all issues are initiated by the respective Heads of the Departments and its Section Heads and are placed before the Director, Deputy Director (Technical) or Deputy Director (Administration) and other committees like Academic Committee, Ethics Committee, Purchase Committee, Quarters Allotment Committee, etc. for making decisions. - The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions;
All the norms mentioned in the CCS rules are adopted at NIHH and the functionaries discharge the duties in accordance with the powers delegated under the Delegation of Financial Power Rules (DFPR). All items, which require specific approvals and sanctions, are put up to the Executive Council and General Council for drawing policies and gaining sanctions accordingly. - The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;
The documents held by the respective departments for carrying out the Human Resource Development (HRD) and Research and Development (R&D), service activities and extension and outreach activities are enclosed in Appendix–III - A statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control. Details are enclosed in Appendix–III
- The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;
Though the public are not directly involved in policy decision, NGOs across the country, experts in the field of Disability Rehabilitation, Education, Employment and social works, representing public issues are involved in the Institute's General Council, Executive Council and Academic Committee.
National and Regional level NGOs meet are also organized to address issues like early childhood education, inclusive education, early identification and intervention, creation of barrier free environment for the persons with disability and implementation of PWD Act, 1995, etc. - A statement of the board's councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of these boards, councils, committee and other bodies are opened to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for the public.
General Council, Executive Council and Academic Committee are responsible for strategic planning and policy decisions of the Institute. The other committees responsible for routine functioning of the Institute are the Official Language Implementation Committee, Ethics Committee, Tender Opening Committee, Purchase Committee, Library Committee, Canteen Committee, Internal Complaints Committee under the provisions of the Protection against Sexual Harassment of Women Bill, 2005, Departmental Promotion Committee, Staff Selection Committee and Admission Committee. These committees are in house and the minutes are not accessible to the public. However, information wherever needed is made known to the concerned. - A directory of its officers and employees. Enclosed in Appendix–IV.
- The monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations:
Enclosed in Appendix–V. - The budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures, and reports on disbursements made;
Enclosed in Appendix–VI. - The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes; Enclosed in Appendix–VII.
- The particulars of concessions, permits, or authorizations granted by it; The Hearing Aid Sale Counter
(HASC) at NIHH has been operational for more than 2 years. Before the HASC, clients were given prescriptions and a list of dealers. The HASC provides a wide range of hearing aids to clients at reasonable costs. The cost is about 30% less than market rates. 3% is additionally charged as handling costs.
It is aimed at extending a cost benefit service while maintaining a high standard of quality control to clients. It includes a non ADIP Scheme body level aid; analog and digital BTE, ITE, ITC and CIC hearing aids. Beneficiaries include those who are eligible for ADIP scheme aids but want hearing aids that offer more than what the scheme aids do. It also includes the clients who do not come under the ADIP scheme due to income slab. Those who fall under the ADIP scheme are asked to fill out a consent form
Comparision of the Market Rate and the Institute's Price of the various hearing aids Sr. No. Hearing Aid Price at Institutes Sale Counter Market Rate Benefits Passed on to Clients 1. Pinnacle Phonak Clasica PP CLP 8736.00 12875.00 4139.00 2. Rexton F80HT+ 2884.00 5100.00 2216.00 3. Elkon AM440 5923.00 9900.00 3977.00 4. Alps PP 5665.00 9500.00 3835.00 5. Danavox 775PPIII 5923.00 8375.00 2452.00 6. Arphi Extra Power 900 3523.00 6200.00 2677.00 7. Hansaton 46 HPPC 6386.00 9200.00 2814.00 - The details in respect of the information available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;
Enclosed in Appendix–VIII. - The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use.
Websites, pamphlets, brochures, posters and notice boards are directly accessible by any citizen. For NGOs and other agencies in the area of disabilities, a NIHH Newsletter and a Calendar of Training Programmes is printed and circulated. Enclosed in Appendix–IX
Disability Line
The benefits of services offered by Government and Non–Government organizations towards the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities are not being fully availed by the target group due to lack of awareness among the persons with disabilities as well as the community and also mainly due to geographical barriers. Therefore, a Disability Line is launched to enable the public to have easy access to information regarding disabilities, to know the benefits/services offered through various schemes and agencies and addresses of service providers at the place of a call.
Disability Line has been set up by NIHH at a Telecom Circle in Maharashtra–Goa to begin with and will later be implemented in all 26 telecom circles across the country. The information is available on IVRS, SMS, E–mail and dialogue modes in Hindi, English and Marathi at local call cost.
However, now citizens from other parts of India can access the information through an outstation call.
WORKING HOURS:
The library works from 9:00 A.M. to 8:30 P.M. on all working days except Saturdays. On Saturdays the library functions from 10.00 am to 5:00 pm. - The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers.
Particulars enclosed in Appendix– X. - Such other information as may be prescribed;
Procedure developed for accessing information which can also be accessed through website. Enclosed in Appendix– XI
NIHH has regional centers at the following places in India. People from other regions can access information in the respective regional center.
Northern Regional Centre
AYJNIHH
Kasturba Niketan
Lajpat Nagar II
New Delhi–110 024
Telefax: 011–29815093
E–mail: ayjnihh_nrc@indiatimes.comSouthern Regional Centre
AYJNIHH
NIMH Campus
Manovikas Nagar, Bowenpally
Secunderabad – 500 009.
Telefax: 040–27758500
E–mail: adsrc@sify.comEastern Regional Centre
AYJNIHH
NIOH Campus
B. T. Road, Bon Hoogly
Kolkata – 700 090.
Telefax: 033–25311427
E–mail: ercnihh@sify.comTraining Centre for Teachers of the Deaf
AYJNIHH – State Collaborated Centre
Unit No. 8, SIRD Complex
Bhubaneshwar – 12.
Telefax: 0674–2561394
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Information Handbook Under
“The Right to Information Act, 2005”
Chapter–1: Introduction
1.1 Background of Information Handbook
This Information Handbook on “The Right to Information Act, 2005” has been prepared in pursuance of section 4 of the Right to information Act, 2005 (RTI Act, 2005) to provide information in respect of powers, duties and functions of Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai, functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, New Delhi
1.2 Objectives
- To provide access to information, to the citizen of India, under the control of AYJNIHH and its Regional Centres at New Delhi, Kolkata, Secunderabad and Bhubaneshwar in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of AYJNIHH.
- To provide maximum information suo moto or sources thereof so that people have minimum resort to use the RTI Act, 2005.
1.3 Intended Users
This handbook is useful for the persons with hearing impairment, their parents/guardians, NGOs and other individuals working in the field of disability and Central/State Government Organizations.
1.4 Contact persons for getting more information
| Sr. No. | Name | Designation | Other Particulars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr. N. Ganesh Public Information Officer (PIO) |
Accounts Officer, AYJNIHH, Mumbai–50 |
Telephone: 022–26400215/226/228 Extension – 319 Fax: 022–26404170 |
| 2 | Mr. S. G. R. Prakash Assistant Public Information Officer(APIO) | I/c Asst. Director/ Lecturer ( Sp.& Hg.) (Associate Professor on Contract) Southern Regional Centre of AYJNIHH, Secunderabad |
Telephone: 040–27758500 E–mail: adsrc@sify.com |
| 3 | Mr. Nageshwar Rao, Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) | I/c Asst. Director/ Extension Service Officer, Eastern Regional Centre of AYJNIHH, Kolkata | Telefax: 033–25311427 E–mail: ercnihh@sify.com |
| 4 | Mr. J. C. Gupta Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) | Lecturer–cum– Assistant Director of Northern Regional Centre of AYJNIHH, New Delhi | Telefax: 011–29815093 E–mail: ayjnihh_nrc@indiatimes.com |
| 5 | Mrs. Prabati Misra Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) | Lecturer –cum–Assistant Director of State Collaborated Centre of AYJNIHH, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa | Telephone: 0674–2561394 |
1.5 Definitions/Abbreviations Used
- RTI Act stands for Right to Information Act, 2005
- AYJNIHH stands for Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped
- GC stands for General Council of AYJNHH
- EC stands for Executive Council of AYHNIHH
- TCTD stands for Training Centre for Teachers of Deaf
- RCI stands for Rehabilitation Council of India
- MJSE stands for Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- IVRS stands for Integrated Voice Response System
- TCAD stands for Training Centre for Adult Deaf
- N.C.E.D. stands for National Council for Education of the Deaf
- ADIP Scheme stands for Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances
1.6 Procedure and fee structure for getting information not available in the handbook
Any person who wishes to seek information under the Right to Information Act, 2005 can submit application in Form–A, attached with this Handbook, to the Public Information officer and Assistant Public Information Officer of the respective Regional Centres of AYJNIHH. It can also be downloaded from the website: http://ayjnihh.nic.in. Nominal fees will be charged for supply of the information as below –
- A request for obtaining information under sub-section (1) of section 6 shall be accompanied by an application fee of rupees ten by way of cash against proper receipt or by demand draft or bankers cheque payable to the Director, AYJNIHH, Mumbai/Assistant Director of respective Regional Center
- For providing the information under sub-section (1) of section 7, the fee shall be charged by way of cash against proper receipt or by demand draft or bankers cheque payable to the Director, AYJNIHH, Mumbai/Assistant Director of respective Regional Center at the following rates —
- rupees two for each page (in A–4 or A–3 size paper) created or copied;
- actual charge or cost price of a copy in larger size paper;
- actual cost or price for samples or models; and
- for inspection of records, no fee for the first hour; and a fee of rupees five for each fifteen minutes (or fraction thereof) thereafter.
- For providing the information under sub–section (5) of section 7, the fee shall be charged by way of cash against proper receipt or by demand draft or bankers cheque payable to the Director, AYJNIHH, Mumbai/Assistant Director of respective Regional Center at the following rates –
- for information provided in diskette or floppy rupees fifty per floppy or CD; and
- for information provided in printed form at the price fixed for such publication or rupees two per page of photocopy for extracts from the publication.
AYJNIHH will endeavor to provide the information in the shortest possible time subject to maximum of 30 days.