When people above the poverty line apply for a Right to Information, they are charged for the filing. Charges are minimal but can be about Rs.50 for an average application. More detailed information is charged higher, at Rs. 5 per half hour spent by the official to research on the desired information, and Rs. 2 per page of information given to you.
So where's the earning opportunity for the BPL citizens? Like many of the social schemes in our country, this 'right' is free for them as well. Individuals below the poverty line don't have to pay any fee for a RTI.
That means, if they do 20 applications on behalf of individuals and give a 50% discount to all, its 500 bucks for a day's work! This is 16666% of the threshold for the poverty line*.
