Policing via social networking

The latest updates on Delhi's traffic condition are just a click away now. Delhiites can get in touch with the Delhi Traffic police through popular social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
By logging on to Twitter, you can get to know about the con- dition of Delhi traffic, which roads you should take and which to avoid, to reach your destination.
By logging on to Facebook, you can share your views on the traffic management initiatives. The rising Internet penetra- tion among Delhiites has prompted Delhi Traffic police to go the social-networking way.
And the innovative idea seems to have clicked.
"People have started com- municating with the traffic police through Facebook and Twitter in bulk," said a senior traffic police officer.
"Through Facebook, we pro- vide information about new plans, initiatives and challenges, and also make the users aware about the traffic situation in the city. Besides, we seek sugges- tions, reactions and views from responsible citizens of Delhi," said Satyendra Garg, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
"Through Twitter, we update them about events, processions, rallies, road congestion, acci- dents etc. The management of traffic in Delhi during the forth- coming Commonwealth Games is a big challenge as well as a great opportunity," he said further.

The story appeared in Hindustan Times on May 17, 2010.

Link: epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleText.aspx?article=18

Now, match-maker RTI

Subhendu Ray

Gone are the days when parents of eligible girls would visit a prospective groom's office to find out about his salary and job profile. With the rise of technology and easy access to information, parents are now taking the help of the Right to Information Act to seek such details.

Recently, the RTI cell of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) received some queries seeking details about the job profiles and salaries of its bachelor employees for matrimonial purposes. Some applicants also asked whether the employee had shown himself as married or single. This shows that parents are becoming more informed and tech-savvy in their search for the right match for their children.

However, the DMRC officials made it clear that they only provide personal details of an employee's salary with their consent. This is in line with the privacy concerns of employees who may not want their personal information to be made public.

But Delhi Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi believes that the pay details of a government employee cannot be treated as personal information and should be made available in the public domain. He argues that even if the details are being sought for matrimonial purposes, Public Information Officers (PIO) should provide them to the applicants.

This was evident when Shivkumari Kashyap, a Chhattisgarh resident, sought pay particulars of her husband Baldev Singh, an employee of South East Central (SEC) Railway, who got married for the second time. She suspected that Singh had entered the name of his second wife in his service book and used the RTI route to gather details.

While some may argue that salary details should be put on the official website, the fact remains that the RTI Act is a powerful tool for citizens to access information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. With more and more parents using the RTI Act to gather information for matrimonial purposes, it is imperative that there are clear guidelines on what information can be made public and what cannot be.

The use of the RTI Act for matrimonial purposes shows that parents are becoming more informed and tech-savvy in their search for the right match for their children. While there are privacy concerns that need to be taken into account, it is important to strike a balance between privacy and transparency in the public domain. The RTI Act is a powerful tool that can help achieve this balance, and it is important that it is used responsibly and effectively.