Think about the mismanagement in the working of the government of Uttar Pradesh that after repeated representations it could not resolve the complexities of the NPCI server status issues. Resolving the NPCI server remains an ongoing challenge for the administration.
RTI Appeal Filed Over Scholarship Portal Issues in Uttar Pradesh for Resolving NPCI Server
Activist Yogi M. P. Singh filed an RTI appeal against the Social Welfare Directorate, Uttar Pradesh, alleging that the Public Information Officer (PIO) provided an incomplete and misleading response to his queries regarding the “Scholarship and Fee Reimbursement Online System.”
This appeal not only raises concerns about transparency but also underscores the importance of accountability in governmental processes related to education funding.
The appeal highlights various issues with the portal’s functionality, such as frequent downtimes and errors that prevent students from accessing vital information, and details how the department handles public information requests, often failing to meet established timelines and requirements.
Resolving NPCI server issues was critical to addressing these concerns, as these technological glitches have severely hindered students’ ability to apply for scholarships and obtain fee reimbursements in a timely manner, ultimately impacting their academic journeys and financial stability.
First Appeal Details
- Appellant Name: Yogi M P Singh
- Appeal Registration Number:
DIRSW/A/2024/60167 - Date of Filing: 14/12/2024
- Public Authority: Social Welfare Directorate, Uttar Pradesh
- Grounds for Appeal: Provided Incomplete, Misleading, or False Information.
First Appellate Authority (FAA) Contact:
- Name: Mr. Arun Kumar Pandey
- Designation: Appellate Authority
- Phone: 8081989398
- Email: director.sw@dirsamajkalyan.in
Background: The Original RTI Request
The appeal stems from an initial RTI application filed on November 22, 2024, seeking crucial information about the state’s scholarship website, which has been instrumental for countless students attempting to access financial assistance for their education.
This application not only aimed to obtain detailed insights into the operational aspects of the website but also sought to uncover any underlying irregularities that may be affecting its functionality.
Part of this request also involved understanding the challenges involved in resolving issues with the NPCI server, which highlighted that resolving the NPCI server complexities was pivotal, as these challenges have had a significant impact on the timely disbursement of funds, ultimately disrupting the educational pursuits of many deserving candidates.
This inquiry aims to shed light on the experiences faced by users while navigating the bureaucratic hurdles and technical difficulties associated with the scholarship program.
- Original RTI Registration Number:
DIRSW/R/2024/60158 - Date of Filing: 22/11/2024
- PIO Approached: SIKSHA (A) SHASHIKANT SINGH, S.O. HQ APIO
- PIO Phone: 9151935126
- PIO Email: director.sw@dirsamajkalyan.in
Information Sought by the Applicant
Mr. Singh requested the following five points of information:
- The name and designation of the public staff responsible for monitoring the “Scholarship and Fee Reimbursement Online System” website.
- The reason for the persistent status error: “Status not received from NPCI server, Checked Date:-(22/11/2024 00:06:31),” which appeared for over a month after the form’s print date of October 23, 2024. Resolving these NPCI server errors is crucial.
- Details on the proceedings and action taken by the government to help students who completed all formalities but could not print their applications due to website and NPCI server failures.
- The name and designation of the public personnel monitoring the scholarship and fee reimbursement scheme within the Social Welfare Directorate.
- A breakdown of funds spent on the maintenance and updating of the scholarship website for the financial years 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25.
The PIO’s Response in Resolving NPCI Server
On December 10, 2024, the PIO disposed of the request with the following reply:
“प्रश्नगत प्रकरण में अवगत कराना है कि छात्रवृत्ति पोर्टल उ0ु्प0 आई0टी0 एवं इलेक्ट्रानिक्स विभाग द्वारा संचालित की जाती है । उक्त पोर्टल के बंद होने की सूचना प्राप्त होते ही संबंधित विभाग को अवगत कराया गया जिसके उपरांत उक्त समस्या का समाधान किया जा चुका है, वर्तमान में वेवसाइट सहीं चल रही है । इसके अतिरिक्त यह भी अवगत कराना है कि पोर्टल के बजट संबंधी समस्त विवरण आई0टी0 इलेक्टानिक्स विभाग द्वारा जारी किया जाता है, जिसकी जानकारी उक्त विभाग से प्राप्त की जा सकती है ।”
Translation: “In the matter in question, we inform you that the U.P. I.T. and Electronics Department operates the scholarship portal. As soon as we received information about the closure of the said portal, we informed the concerned department, which then resolved the problem; currently, the website is running correctly.
Additionally, we would like to inform you that the I.T. Electronics Department issues all the details related to the budget of the portal, and you can obtain this information from them.
Instead of Resolving NPCI Server issue, two departments of the government of Uttar Pradesh were busy in deciding the responsibilities.”
Grounds for Appeal and Relief Sought
Mr. Singh argues that the PIO’s response is a violation of the RTI Act, 2005. His main contentions are:
- Failure to Provide Available Information: The PIO did not provide information that should be available with the Social Welfare Directorate (points 1, 3, and 4), such as the names of their own monitoring staff.
- Improper Handling of Request: Instead of transferring the parts of the RTI concerning another department (point 5 regarding budget) to the U.P. I.T. and Electronics Department as required under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, the PIO simply directed the applicant to seek it from them.
In his appeal, Mr. Singh has requested the First Appellate Authority to:
- Direct the PIO to provide all information available with the Social Welfare Directorate.
- Transfer the relevant parts of the RTI application to the correct public authority.
- Initiate action against the PIO in accordance with the law for failing to adhere to the RTI Act.
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