WHAT IS RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT?
The Government of India has enacted ‘Right to Information Act, 2005’ to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of Public Authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of any Public Authority.
WHAT IS RIGHT TO INFORMATION
The right to information includes an access to the information which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to inspect the work, document, records, taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents / records and certified samples of the materials and obtaining information which is also stored in electronic form.
THE INFORMATION WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE
The Act provides under Sections 8 and 9, certain categories of information that are exempt from disclosure to the citizens. The public may also refer to the relative sections of the Act before submitting a request for information.
WHO CAN ASK FOR INFORMATION?
Any citizen can request for information by making an application in writing or through electronic means in English / Hindi / official language of the areas, in which the application is being made together with the prescribed fees.
WHO WILL GIVE INFORMATION?
Any Public Authority would designate Asst. Public Information Officer (APIO) at various levels, who will receive the requests for information from the public and necessary number of Public Information Officers (PIO) in all administrative units/ office who will arrange for providing necessary information to the public as permitted under the law. The Public Authorities are also required to designate authority (ies) senior in rank to PIO, as Appellate Authorities, who will entertain and dispose off appeals against the decision of the PIO as required under the Act. Any person who does not receive the decision from PIO whether by way of information or rejection within the time frame, may within 30 days from the expiry of period prescribed for furnishing the information or 30 days from the date of receipt of the decision, prefer an appeal to the Appellate Authority.
THE MAIN STRUCTURE / ROLE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS

The APIO will receive the application / request for information or the appeals under the Act and forward the same immediately to the PIO or the Appellate Authority as the case may be.
Public Information Officers (PIO)
The PIO is required to process the request for providing the information and dispose off the same either by providing the information or rejecting the request, within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of request
Appellate Authorities
The Appellate Authority will entertain and dispose off appeals against the decision of the PIO as required under the Act.

THE STRUCTURE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS IN PUNJAB INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (PIDB)

Asst. Public Information Officer (APIO) designated in PIDB
Assistant Manager (Projects) has been designated as APIO who will receive the requests for information from public and forward to the PIO for necessary action. The APIO shall also receive the appeals and forward the same to the Appellate Authority.
Public Information Officer (PIO) designated in PIDB
Manager (Legal), PIDB has been designated as PIO.

Appellate Authority
The Managing Director, PIDB is the Appellate Authority.

HOW TO LOCATE THE APIO AND THE PIO IN PIDB
The address of the APIO and the PIO is available on PIDB’s website i.e. www.pidb.org A member of the public may submit a request for information or an appeal against the decision of the PIO to the APIO. The APIO shall forward the request for information to the PIO and the appeal to the Appellate Authority.