20 years after the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005, a simple question still remains unanswered:
How many property tax-exempt Religious Institutions, Educational Institutions, and Medical Institutions exist in our City Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Town Panchayats, and Panchayat Unions?
The responses received are deeply concerning:
• One authority cited "heavy workload." • Another stated that "no such records are maintained." • Yet another claimed that "all religious, educational and medical buildings are exempted."
When the matter was pursued before the State Information Commission, it was stated that the Commission cannot direct authorities to create or compile data that is not maintained and that maintaining such databases is the responsibility of the Government.
This raises a fundamental governance question:
If Local Bodies do not maintain even the basic database of property tax-exempt buildings, how can public assets, revenue implications, policy decisions, audits, transparency, accountability, and urban planning be effectively monitored?
I sincerely appreciate the vision expressed by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in emphasizing Transparency and Accountability in governance. The time has come to translate that vision into measurable administrative reforms.
I respectfully urge the Government of Tamil Nadu
@CMOTamilnadu @CmcellTamilNadu @Chief_Secy_TN @TNeGA_Official to:
Create a real-time digital database of all property tax-exempt buildings.
Mandate annual updating and public disclosure by all Urban and Rural Local Bodies.
Integrate City Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Town Panchayats, and Panchayat Unions through a common public dashboard.
Ensure proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act.
Fix accountability where basic statutory databases are not maintained.
Citizens should not be forced to file RTI applications to obtain fundamental public information. Transparency should be the default, not an exception.
#RTIAct2005 #Transparency #Accountability #TamilNadu #LocalGovernance #OpenData #GoodGovernance #PropertyTax #MunicipalAdministration #RuralDevelopment #PublicInterest @BluerootsF