The Marine ProductsExport Development Authority Government of India Ministry of Commerce& Industry RTI Manual (Information under section 4 (1) (b)of the Right to Information Act) Issued by Chairman, MPEDA, Kochi 1 Suo-motu disclosure under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, 2005 Chapter Description Page No. Introduction 5 – 6 1 Particulars of Organization, Functions and Duties 7 – 40 2 Powers and Duties of its Officers and Employees 41 – 46 3 Procedure followed in decision making process 47 – 53 including channels of supervision and accountability 4 Norms set by it for the discharge of its functions 54 – 62 5 The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals, and 63 records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions 6 A statement of the categories of documents that 64 – 70 are held by it or under its control 7 Particulars of any arrangement that exists for 71 – 72 consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof. 8 A statement of boards, council, committees and 73 – 82 other bodies constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those Boards, Councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public. 9 Directory of its officers and employees 83 10 The monthly remuneration received by each of its 84 – 92 officers and employees, including the system of Compensation as provided in Regulations 11 The budget allotted to each of its agency indicating the particulars of all plans proposed expenditure and 93 – 94 reports on disbursements made. 12 The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, 95 – 127 including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes. 13 Particulars of Recipients of Concessions, permits 128 or authorization granted by it. 14 Details in respect of theInformation available to 129 – 130 2 or held by it, reduced in an electronic form. 15 Particulars of the facilities available to citizens for 131 – 134 obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use. 16 The names, designations and other particulars of 135 – 136 the Public Information Officers 17 Such other information as maybe prescribed 137 – 150 Anxr No Description Page No I ELIGIBLE VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS FOR 151 – 152 AVAILING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE II ELIGIBLE LIST OF MACHINERY AND 153 – 155 EQUIPMENT-TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR SPECIFIC VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS II A Other additional components eligible under the 156 – 157 Scheme for the production of Specific Value Added Products. III List of Machinery and Equipment for Chilled 158 Fish Export Handling Centre IV List of Machinery andEquipment for Live Fish 159 Export Handling Centre V List of Machinery and Equipment for Dry Fish 160 Export Handling Centre VI Documents to be submitted by the applicant 161 along with Application for Advance Approval VII Documents to be uploaded along with final 162 application VIII Format of Certificate by Chartered Accountant 163 on the total project cost VIIIA Statement of expenditure 164 IX Chartered Engineer’s room-wise/area-wise 165 estimate X Chartered Engineer’s valuation-cum-completion 166 certificate X A Chartered Engineer’s detailed room-wise/area- 167 wise/item-wise statement XI Format of Bond 168 - 169 XIA Format of extension of Bond 170 – 171 XII Format of Bank Guarantee 172 – 173 3 XIIA Format of extension of Bank Guarantee 174 XIII Joint declaration-cum-undertaking – Format of 175 Bank Guarantee XIII-A Joint declaration-cum-undertaking 176 - 177 XIV No objection certificate (Issued by owner) 178 XIV A No objection certificate (Issued by owner) 179 XV Format of verification report for advance 180 – 182 approval under TDSVAP XVI Format of final verification report for TDSVAP 183 – 186 XVII Format of verification report for advance 187 – 188 approval under Export Handling units for live/chilled/dried marine products XVIII Format of final verification report for advance 189 – 191 approval under Export Handling units for live/chilled/dried marine products XIX Format of letter for advance approval for 192 – 193 availing financial assistance XX Format of letter for extension of advance 194 approval for availing financial assistance XXI Undertaking regarding carryover of pending 195 – 196 export obligation XXII Undertaking regarding awareness and export 197 obligation XXIII Standing instructions 205 – 211 Form No Description Page No TDSV-A TDSVP – Advance approval application 198 - 199 TDSV-F TDSVP – Final Application 200 HC-A Fin.Assistance for chilled/live/dry fish 201 exporting handling Centre-Advance approval application HC –F Fin.Assistance for chilled/live/dry fish 202 exporting handling Centre - Final application TDSV/HC-A Declaration 203 TDSV/HC-B Declaration (Current beneficiaries under 204 TUSMP/TIUSMP schemes) 4 THE MARINE PRODUCTS EXPORT DEVELOMENT AUTHORITY, KOCHI 682 036 Suo-motu disclosure under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, 2005 A. Introduction The Right to Information Act 2005 (22 of 2005) was enacted by Parliament and the assent of the President was obtained on 15th June 2005. The objective of the Act is 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 every public authority. Section 4 (1) (b) of the Act enjoins up on every public authority to publish, suo motu, 17 Chapters containing the particulars of its organization, functions, duties, and such other particulars required in the Section ibid. The RTI Act was enacted by Government of India with a view to empower the citizens to get information from various Government departments, offices, organizations, institutions, local bodies, bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed, including non Government organizations substantially financed directly or indirectly by the Government, known as public authority, as a matter of right within a stipulated time frame, barring exceptions. Under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, the citizens can have access to the information of the MPEDA except certain information as notified under Section 8 of the Act. The citizens may obtain the information about the Authority on payment of prescribed fees. B.Procedure for Request of Information 1. Apply in writing or through electronic means in English/Hindi or in the official language of the area to the Public Information Officer (PIO), specifying the particulars of the information sought for. 2. Reason for seeking information is not required to be given. 3. Pay fees as may be prescribed (if not belonging to the Below Poverty Line category). C. The time limit to get the information 1. 30 days from the date of filing application before the Public Information Officer 2. 35 days from the date of filing application before the Assistant Public Information Officer. 3. 48 hours for information concerning the life or liberty of a person 5 4. If the interests of a third party are involved, then time limit will be 40 days (maximum period + time given to the third party to make representation). 5. Failure to provide information within the specified period is a deemed refusal D. The fee 1. Application fee of Rs.10/- is prescribed. 2. If further fees are required, then it must be intimated in writing with calculation details of how the figure was arrived at 3. No fees will be charged from people Below the Poverty Line. 4. Remittances may be made in the form of Demand draft/Bankers cheque/Indian Postal Orders drawn in favour of the Secretary, MPEDA, Kochi 682036. 5. Applicant must be provided information free of cost if the PIO fails to comply with the prescribed time limit. E. Ground for rejection 1. If it is covered by exemption from disclosure. (Section 8) 2. If it infringes copyright of any person other than the State. (Sec.9) 6 Chapter 1 (Under Section 4 (1) (b) (i) of RTI Act) 1.1 Particulars of Organization, Functions and Duties The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) was established under the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act 1972 (No. 13 of 1972) by Government of India. The mandate of MPEDA is to develop the marine products industry with special reference to export under the control of the Government of India. The Authority is functioning under the administrative control of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. 1.2.OUR MISSION MPEDA is a unique organization under the Government of India having close co- ordination with all stakeholders in the entire value chain of seafood export. MPEDA regulates the industry by registering Exporters, Processing Plants, Peeling sheds, Frozen Storages, Fishing Vessels and other entities under the MPEDA Act, 1972. The export oriented Aquaculture Farms and Hatcheries are also enrolled and allotted with Unique ID. The registered/enrolled entities are technically and financially assisted by MPEDA to meet the stringent parameters of traceability and quality prescribed by the important markets such as European Union, USA and Japan. MPEDA coordinates with the governments of the importing countries for meeting their statutory requirements and facilitate export of seafood from India. 1.3. OUR COMMITMENT/VISION MPEDA acts as the Nodal agency of the Government of India for overall development of the marine products industry with special reference to export. The major stakeholders in the industry are Fishers, Aquaculture farmers, Hatchery owners, Processors, Exporters and workers in the industry. MPEDA is providing technical and financial assistance to the stakeholders apart from imparting technical training and awareness programs especially in implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and other quality aspects.