My Story: "RTO Made My License In 2 Hours After I Told Them That I Will File An RTI"

A week or 2 back I took a Uber ride and met an interesting driver Mr Tirthanand. While I was talking about disability event I had on that day, he started talking about an issue that he was facing w.r.t his licence. Being from a small town he wanted to support his town in some way, so even if he had to pay Rs 30,000 more he bought his vehicle from his native, he wanted to convert his licence into a smartcard, for which again he wanted to do it from his town. The work was held up even after some 30-40 follow-ups with the department for some 20 days. Reasons given were as silly as admin madam is on leave, RTO is on leave, some holiday etc. While he told all of this to me I got RTO escalation no.s from Ravi, who was on a call with me and suggested

• call RTO complaint no.s or call the place where he has been following up and use RTI word in his next follow up discussion.
• if it doesn’t help then actually file an RTI application asking about no. of days etc. Gave him Surendran’s no. too so that he can assist him with the same. Suren does many awareness sessions on RTI. *RTI : Right to Information

On the festive day 22nd, this was best Dasara wish I got messages with his car pics.

Tirthanand Uber : Happy Dasara madam. Thanks, madam, Nan DL Sikthu madam (Festive Wishes, Thanks, madam, I got my DL)

Prarthana Unkalkar Kaul: Hauda super. (Oh is it, super)

Tirthanand Uber : Ella nimma RTI dhaye madam. RTI file maadthini antha hedhrusthe ashte, within 2 hours li DL ready aaythu. Ishtu bega Nan kelsa aagutthe antha ankondirlilla thumba thanks madam (All thanks to your RTI, I just informed them that I would file RTI and got my licence ready ” within 2 hours”. Never expected my work would be done soo fast. Many thanks madam)

(According to rules after the applicants submit required papers, he/she will be photographed and then thumb impression and signature are recorded on the computerized database and chip. The smart card license should be issued on the same day )

I am happy Tirthanad took my little advice seriously and tried to get his work done patiently. At times it’s important to just spread a word abut good work and about various solutions than cribbing about problems. Take responsibility rather than blaming each other or the system. You never know how and who would get benefited.

Also read : https://thelogicalindian.com/good-to-know/government-awareness/good-to-know-how-to-file-a-right-to-informationrti-plea/