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—state-scheme:sikkim:pmay [2026/07/18 18:43] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
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 +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(rti for pmay in sikkim, sikkim pmay rti, pmay grameen sikkim rti, pmay urban sikkim, file rti sikkim online, sikkim information commission, rmdd sikkim rti, bdo sikkim rti)
 +metatag-description=(File RTI for PMAY housing in Sikkim: Rs 10 fee, rtionline.sikkim.gov.in online portal, RMDD rural or UDHD urban office, 30-day reply, Gangtok SIC appeals.)
 +metatag-title=(RTI for PMAY Housing in Sikkim — citizen guide 2026)}}
 +
 +====== RTI for PMAY Housing in Sikkim — citizen guide 2026 ======
 +
 +<WRAP info>**Quick answer.** In Sikkim, file your RTI for **PMAY housing** to the **Block Development Officer** for a rural (PMAY-Grameen) house, or to the **Urban Development & Housing Department** for an urban (PMAY-Urban) house. The state fee is **Rs. 10** by Indian Postal Order, bank receipt or demand draft, and you can also file online at **rtionline.sikkim.gov.in**. A reply is legally due in **30 days** under §7(1) of the RTI Act 2005; if it does not come, appeal to the **Sikkim Information Commission** at Gangtok.</WRAP>
 +
 +PMAY housing — the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana — is the single biggest housing scheme touching Sikkim families, yet applicants routinely wait months with no word on whether their name is on the permanent wait list, why an installment stalled, or why a sanctioned house has not been geo-tagged. An RTI application, filed correctly at the right Sikkim office, is the cheapest and fastest way to force a written answer. This guide is the Sikkim-specific companion to the national **[[/rti-for-pmay-status|full RTI for PMAY housing guide]]** — it tells you which office in Sikkim holds your file, exactly what to pay, how to file online or by post, and where to escalate if the silence continues. Every office, fee, portal and address below was verified live in July 2026.
 +
 +===== What is PMAY housing in Sikkim — and why file an RTI? =====
 +
 +Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana runs as two parallel missions in Sikkim, and the office you must target depends entirely on which one you applied under:
 +
 +  - **PMAY-Grameen (PMAY-G)** — rural housing, implemented in Sikkim by the **Rural Management & Development Department (RMDD)** through the **Block Development Officer (BDO)** at each block. It replaced the older Indira Awaas Yojana and uses the AwaasPlus survey and SECC 2011 deprivation parameters to build the permanent wait list.
 +  - **PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U)** — urban housing, implemented by the **Urban Development & Housing Department (UDHD)** and the Urban Local Bodies (the Gangtok Municipal Corporation and the municipal councils at Namchi, Gyalshing, Mangan and other towns). Sikkim also runs its own state-funded **Sikkim Urban Garib Awas Yojana (SUGAY)**, aligned with PMAY-U objectives.
 +
 +The practical reason citizens file an RTI for PMAY in Sikkim is opacity. You applied, you have a registration number, but no one at the BDO office or the municipal counter will tell you in writing: Is my name on the wait list? What is my ranking? Why has the first installment not come? Was my house geo-tagged? Was I removed, and if so on what ground? A phone call gets a shrug; an RTI gets a signed, dated, legally-binding reply within 30 days. That reply is also the evidence you need for a **[[/first-appeal|first appeal]]**, a grievance, or a complaint to the **Sikkim Information Commission**.
 +
 +For the national template, decision logic and case law, read the parent **[[/rti-for-pmay-status|RTI for PMAY housing guide]]**. Everything below is the Sikkim-specific layer on top.
 +
 +===== Which Sikkim office holds your PMAY file? =====
 +
 +This is the single most important decision, because sending the application to the wrong office is the top reason Sikkim RTIs get bounced as "information not held". The **first PIO in the chain** for PMAY in Sikkim is the office that actually holds your beneficiary record — almost always the BDO or the ULB, not the top state department.
 +
 +^ PMAY mission ^ Your location ^ First PIO to address the RTI to ^ Parent department ^
 +| PMAY-Grameen (rural) | Any Sikkim village / GPU | **Block Development Officer (BDO)** of your block | Rural Management & Development Department (RMDD) |
 +| PMAY-Grameen (rural) | District-level query / appeal | Additional Director (Dev) / District Collector | RMDD |
 +| PMAY-Urban (urban) | Gangtok town | **Public Information Officer, Gangtok Municipal Corporation** | Urban Development & Housing Department (UDHD) |
 +| PMAY-Urban (urban) | Namchi, Gyalshing, Mangan, other towns | PIO of the relevant **Municipal Council / Urban Local Body** | UDHD |
 +| PMAY-Urban / SUGAY | State-level policy query | PIO, Urban Development & Housing Department, Gangtok | UDHD |
 +
 +Sikkim now has **six districts** after the Re-organisation of Districts Act 2021 (Notification 26/L&PAD/2021 dated 13 December 2021): **Gangtok, Pakyong, Namchi, Soreng, Gyalshing and Mangan**. Each district has its own set of blocks with a BDO office — that BDO is your first stop for any rural PMAY-G question. If you cannot tell which block, call the RMDD headquarters at the number on **rmdd.sikkim.gov.in** and ask for the BDO for your Gram Panchayat Unit.
 +
 +The key Sikkim nodal contacts, verified on the state portal in July 2026:
 +
 +^ Office ^ Verified role ^ Where found ^
 +| Rural Management & Development Department (RMDD) | Nodal department for PMAY-Grameen in Sikkim; runs the Rural Housing (PMAY-G) cell | rmdd.sikkim.gov.in/visitors/21 |
 +| Urban Development & Housing Department (UDHD) | Nodal department for PMAY-Urban and SUGAY; address Paljor Stadium Road, Gangtok 737101 | sikkim.gov.in/departments/urban-dev-housing-department |
 +| Sikkim Information Commission | State appellate body for second appeals; Old Secretariat, NH-10, Gangtok 737101 | sikkim.gov.in/departments/sikkim-information-commission |
 +
 +If you are still unsure which office to address, use the **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]]** — it picks the correct PIO line from your scheme and location. For the full directory of state portals, see **[[/state-rti-portals-directory|the state portals directory]]**.
 +
 +===== How much is the Sikkim RTI fee — and how do you pay? =====
 +
 +The Sikkim RTI application fee is **Rs. 10 per application**, fixed under the **Sikkim State Right to Information (Regulation of Fee, Cost and Miscellaneous) Rules, 2005** (Notification 230/GEN/DOP dated 22 December 2005). That is the same Rs. 10 ceiling the RTI Act 2005 allows states to set, and Sikkim has not raised it. The fee schedule for PMAY applicants in Sikkim, read straight from the gazette:
 +
 +^ Fee or cost ^ Amount in Sikkim ^ Legal basis ^
 +| Application fee (each request) | Rs. 10 | Sikkim RTI Rules 2005, Rule 5(1) |
 +| Printout per page (A4 / A3) | Rs. 2 per page | Sikkim RTI Rules 2005, Rule 9(A)(b)(i) |
 +| Large-size copy | Actual cost price | Sikkim RTI Rules 2005, Rule 9(A)(b)(ii) |
 +| Records inspection | Free for the first hour, then Rs. 5 per 15 minutes (or fraction) | Sikkim RTI Rules 2005, Rule 9(B) |
 +| Sample or priced publication | Price fixed by the department plus postal charges | Sikkim RTI Rules 2005, Rule 9(A)(a) |
 +| **BPL applicant** | **Nil — fully exempt** | RTI Act 2005 §7(5); Sikkim RTI Rules 2005 |
 +
 +**Accepted modes of payment in Sikkim** — these are the only modes Rule 9(1) of the Sikkim RTI Rules 2005 enumerates:
 +
 +  - **Indian Postal Order (IPO)** of Rs. 10, crossed and in favour of the PIO.
 +  - **Bank receipt** for Rs. 10 deposited under Major Head **0070 – Administrative Service, Sub-Major 60 – Other Services, 118 – Receipt under Right to Information Act, 2005**, attached to the application.
 +  - **Demand draft / banker's cheque** for Rs. 10 in favour of the public authority.
 +
 +Note what is **not** on that list: a **court fee stamp is not an accepted Sikkim RTI fee mode**. Rule 9(1) names only bank receipt, demand draft and Indian postal order. Affixing a court fee stamp to a Sikkim RTI application risks the PIO returning it as invalid fee — do not use one. (For electronic applications, Rule 5(3) also allows a money order or cheque to the PIO.)
 +
 +If you hold a valid **Below Poverty Line (BPL)** card, you pay **nothing** — attach a self-attested copy of the BPL certificate and the fee is waived under §7(5) of the Act. This matters enormously for PMAY, because most PMAY-G beneficiaries in Sikkim are BPL-eligible by definition of the scheme. See **[[/rti-fees-by-state|state-wise RTI fees]]** for how Sikkim compares with neighbouring states, and use the **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Calculator]]** to count your deadlines.
 +
 +One warning the old version of this page got wrong: Sikkim is **not** postal-only. You can file online (next section) and you can pay by IPO, bank receipt or demand draft. Do not let anyone at a counter tell you "only Speed Post is accepted" — that is not what the Sikkim RTI Rules 2005 say.
 +
 +===== Can I file my Sikkim PMAY RTI online? =====
 +
 +Yes. Sikkim runs its own state RTI portal at **rtionline.sikkim.gov.in** — the "RTI Portal, Sikkim" — where you can register, select the public authority (for example the Rural Management & Development Department or the Urban Development & Housing Department), upload your PMAY application and pay the Rs. 10 statutory fee through the portal's payment gateway. This is the cleanest route when you want a time-stamped digital receipt and you do not want to depend on the postal cycle.
 +
 +How online filing in Sikkim works, step by step:
 +
 +  - Go to **rtionline.sikkim.gov.in** and register with a mobile number and email.
 +  - Log in, choose **Submit RTI Application**, and pick the Sikkim public authority that holds your PMAY file (RMDD for rural, UDHD or the ULB for urban).
 +  - Paste or upload your application text — see the **sample below**.
 +  - Pay the Rs. 10 fee plus any gateway charge via net banking, UPI or card.
 +  - Save the **registration number** that the portal returns; that is your proof of filing and the start of your 30-day clock.
 +
 +A few Sikkim-specific realities:
 +
 +  - The central portal **rtionline.gov.in** mainly serves central ministries and attached offices. For a state PMAY PIO such as a Sikkim BDO or UDHD, the **state portal rtionline.sikkim.gov.in** is the correct route — the central portal will not have the BDO listed.
 +  - If your block's BDO has not yet been onboarded to the state portal, fall back to a **paper application by Speed Post** with an IPO or demand draft — the right to file by post is unconditional under §6(1) of the **[[/act|RTI Act 2005]]**.
 +  - Online or offline, the **30-day clock under §7(1)** starts the day the PIO receives the application, not the day you click submit. Keep the receipt.
 +
 +Not confident drafting the application yourself? The **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]]** writes a §6(1)-ready application from plain answers, and **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/awaaz-rti.html|AwaazRTI]]** lets you dictate it in Nepali, Hindi or English.
 +
 +===== Filing step by step in Sikkim — 6 steps =====
 +
 +  - **Step 1 — Pin the exact office.** Rural PMAY-G = your **BDO**. Urban PMAY-U = the **ULB / UDHD PIO**. Address the application by name and office, with the full postal address. If unsure, confirm the BDO from **rmdd.sikkim.gov.in**.
 +  - **Step 2 — Write 5 tight questions.** Vague questions ("tell me everything about my house") get vague answers. Ask for specific facts: registration number, wait-list rank, sanction stage, geo-tag record, installment status. See the **sample application** below.
 +  - **Step 3 — Pay Rs. 10.** Attach an IPO, a demand draft, or a bank-receipt challan under Major Head 0070, or pay online on **rtionline.sikkim.gov.in**. (Do **not** use a court fee stamp — it is not a valid Sikkim RTI fee mode.) If you are BPL, attach the BPL certificate and pay nothing.
 +  - **Step 4 — File online or by Speed Post.** Online is faster and self-evidenced; Speed Post is the fallback and the postal tracking number is your proof of delivery.
 +  - **Step 5 — Start the 30-day clock.** Under §7(1) the PIO must reply within 30 days of receipt. Life or liberty matters shrink this to 48 hours.
 +  - **Step 6 — Log everything.** Keep the receipt, the postal / portal number, and a dated copy of the application. If no reply comes by Day 31, you have everything ready for the **first appeal**.
 +
 +Use the **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Calculator]]** to auto-compute Day 30, Day 45 and Day 90 for your Sikkim filing.
 +
 +===== No reply in 30 days — first and second appeal =====
 +
 +Silence from a Sikkim PIO is not the end — it is the start of a two-stage appeal ladder set by §§19(1) and 19(3) of the **[[/act|RTI Act 2005]]**.
 +
 +^ Stage ^ Sikkim action ^ Deadline ^
 +| **First Appeal** — §19(1) | File with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) of the same public authority — for a BDO this is usually the Additional Director (Dev) or the District Collector; for UDHD it is the departmental appellate authority. The Sikkim Rules fix a first-appeal fee of Rs. 100 by bank receipt under Major Head 0070 (Rule 12). | Within **30 days** of the PIO's silence / reply (extendable to 45). |
 +| **FAA decision** | The FAA must dispose of the appeal within 30 days, extendable to 45. | 30 / 45 days |
 +| **Second Appeal** — §19(3) | File with the **Sikkim Information Commission**, Old Secretariat, NH-10, Gangtok 737101 (website **sicsikkim.nic.in**). The Sikkim Rules fix a second-appeal fee of Rs. 100 by bank receipt (Rule 14). | Within **90 days** of the FAA decision (or the date it was due). |
 +
 +The Sikkim Information Commission is a quasi-judicial body established in **2006 under §15** of the RTI Act 2005, sitting at Gangtok. Verified contact channels from the state portal: email **[email protected]** (and a public Gmail the Commission advertises, **[email protected]**), and the physical address **Old Secretariat, NH 10, Gangtok 737101, Sikkim**. The Commission publishes its judgment orders, annual reports and the list of appellate authorities and SPIOs on its section of **sikkim.gov.in/departments/sikkim-information-commission** — read those before you draft a second appeal.
 +
 +Build your first-appeal letter with the **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]]**, and analyse whatever partial reply you got with the **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pio-reply-checker-app.html|PIO Reply Checker]]**. For the national template of the second-appeal format, see **[[/second-appeal|the second appeal guide]]** and the broader **[[/cases|case-law database]]**.
 +
 +Parallel pressure also works in Sikkim: file a **CPGRAMS** grievance at pgportal.gov.in, and — because PMAY is centrally sponsored — escalate beneficiary complaints through the **pmayg.dord.gov.in** grievance link for rural or **pmaymis.gov.in** for urban.
 +
 +===== PMAY-Grameen vs PMAY-Urban in Sikkim =====
 +
 +Choosing the wrong mission is a classic error. Here is how they differ in Sikkim, with the public portal each runs on:
 +
 +^ Feature ^ PMAY-Grameen in Sikkim ^ PMAY-Urban in Sikkim ^
 +| Nodal department | Rural Management & Development Department (RMDD) | Urban Development & Housing Department (UDHD) |
 +| First PIO | Block Development Officer (BDO) | ULB / Municipal Corporation or Council |
 +| Beneficiary list source | AwaasPlus survey + SECC 2011 deprivation parameters | SECC 2011 urban + self-funded / beneficiary-led components |
 +| National portal | **pmayg.dord.gov.in** (AwaasSoft) | **pmaymis.gov.in** and **pmay-urban.gov.in** |
 +| Components | Beneficiary-led construction; unit assistance in tranches | BLC, Affordable Housing in Partnership, ISSR, CLSS |
 +| State layer | — | **Sikkim Urban Garib Awas Yojana (SUGAY)**, a fully state-funded urban scheme aligned to PMAY-U |
 +
 +Practical test: if your house is in a Gram Panchayat Unit and your application came through the panchayat or BDO, you are **PMAY-G** — target the BDO and RMDD. If your house is inside a municipal town limit (Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Namchi Municipal Council, etc.) and the application came through the urban local body, you are **PMAY-U** — target the ULB and UDHD. The full national comparison is in **[[/scheme-state/pmay/start|the cross-state PMAY hub]]**.
 +
 +===== Eligibility, SECC 2011 and the AwaasPlus question =====
 +
 +Most Sikkim RTI disputes about PMAY-G are really disputes about **why someone is — or is not — on the permanent wait list**. The list is built from the **AwaasPlus** survey layered on the **SECC 2011** deprivation and exclusion parameters, and managed on the national **AwaasSoft** system at pmayg.dord.gov.in. Sikkim's RMDD confirms that beneficiaries are identified through the AwaasPlus app and ranked by priority.
 +
 +That means an RTI is often the only way to get, in writing:
 +
 +  - Whether your household appears in the AwaasPlus data for your GPU.
 +  - Your deprivation score and ranking in the permanent wait list.
 +  - Whether you were removed under any SECC exclusion parameter (pucca house, government job, motorised transport, etc.) and the specific ground.
 +  - The inspection / geo-tagging record for your sanctioned house.
 +
 +Be aware of one limit: the RTI Act 2005 cannot force the BDO to **change** your status, only to **disclose** it. If the disclosure shows an error, the fix is a grievance or representation, not another RTI. Pair the RTI reply with a **CPGRAMS** complaint for the strongest result. The national eligibility walkthrough — including the SECC exclusion parameters — is in the parent **[[/rti-for-pmay-status|PMAY housing guide]]**.
 +
 +===== What information can you legally demand? =====
 +
 +The RTI Act 2005 is generous, but §8 carves out exemptions. For PMAY in Sikkim, here is what is in scope and what is not:
 +
 +^ Information you CAN demand ^ Information that can be refused ^
 +| Your own application status, registration number, wait-list rank | Third-party bank account or Aadhaar of other beneficiaries (§8(1)(j)) |
 +| Sanction order, installment schedule, FTO / payment records | Cabinet papers still under consideration (§8(1)(i)) |
 +| Geo-tag photographs, inspection reports, field visits | Information that would endanger life or physical safety (§8(1)(g)) |
 +| Reasons for delay, removal or rejection of your name | Purely personal information with no public interest (§8(1)(j)) |
 +| Total central + state share released vs disbursed | Trade-secrets / commercial confidence of a contractor (§8(1)(d)) |
 +| Name & designation of the PIO / FAA | Information given in confidence by a foreign government |
 +
 +The rule of thumb: **your own file is always disclosable**; other people's personal details are not, unless you can show larger public interest. When in doubt, draft your five questions with the **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]]** so they stay within §6(1) and dodge §8.
 +
 +===== Sample RTI application for PMAY in Sikkim =====
 +
 +Below is a ready-to-file Sikkim application. Replace the angle-bracket fields with your own details, then file online at **rtionline.sikkim.gov.in** or paste it onto plain paper with an Rs. 10 IPO, demand draft or bank-receipt challan under Major Head 0070.
 +
 +<code>
 +To
 +The State Public Information Officer (SPIO)
 +Block Development Office, <Your Block> District          [for PMAY-G]
 +-- OR --
 +Urban Development & Housing Department / <Municipal Corporation>
 +Paljor Stadium Road, Gangtok 737101, Sikkim              [for PMAY-U]
 +
 +Subject: Application under section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 seeking
 +information on PMAY housing for the applicant.
 +
 +Sir/Madam,
 +
 +I, <Your Full Name>, son/daughter of <Father's Name>, resident of
 +<House No., Village/Ward, GPU, District, Sikkim - PIN>, hereby submit
 +that I applied under PMAY-G / PMAY-U on <Date> and my application /
 +registration reference is <Number>. I seek the following information,
 +which I am entitled to under section 6(1) read with section 7(1) of the
 +Right to Information Act, 2005:
 +
 +1. Whether my application dated <Date> under PMAY-G / PMAY-U has been
 +   received and registered; if yes, the registration number and date of
 +   registration, and the public authority that holds the record.
 +
 +2. The current stage of my application (permanent wait-list ranking,
 +   sanction, inspection, geo-tagging, installment release) with the date
 +   on which each stage was completed or is due.
 +
 +3. A certified copy of the inspection report and geo-tagging record,
 +   including the photograph, of my sanctioned house under PMAY-G / PMAY-U.
 +
 +4. The reasons for any delay in releasing the next installment, the total
 +   central and state share sanctioned, the amount already disbursed to me,
 +   and the expected date of the next release.
 +
 +5. If my name has been removed or rejected from the wait list, the specific
 +   ground of removal under the SECC 2011 / AwaasPlus parameters and the
 +   authority that took the decision, with a certified copy of the order.
 +
 +I state that the information sought is not falling under any of the
 +exemptions in section 8 or 9 of the RTI Act, 2005. I am a citizen of India.
 +The requisite fee of Rs. 10 is paid herewith by <Indian Postal Order /
 +demand draft No. ___ / bank receipt challan No. ___ under Major Head 0070 /
 +online payment receipt No. ___>.
 +[If BPL: I belong to the Below Poverty Line category; copy of my BPL
 +certificate is enclosed and the fee is waived under section 7(5).]
 +
 +Please supply the information within the period prescribed under
 +section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. If the information is partly held by
 +another public authority, kindly transfer the application under section 6(3)
 +within five days and inform me accordingly.
 +
 +Place: <City/Village>
 +Date:  <DD/MM/YYYY>
 +
 +                                            (Signature)
 +Name:   <Your Full Name>
 +Address: <Full postal address, Sikkim>
 +Mobile: <Number>     Email: <Email>
 +</code>
 +
 +This template satisfies §6(1) (right to request), §6(3) (transfer duty), §7(1) (30-day reply), §7(3) (fee intimation) and §7(5) (BPL waiver), and is structured to support a clean **§19(1) first appeal** if the Sikkim PIO stays silent. For variations, see the **[[/guide/applicant/application/sample/start|sample RTI letters index]]**.
 +
 +===== Real-life example — a Sikkim village applicant =====
 +
 +<WRAP center round box>
 +**Composite example (illustrative — figures marked, not a verified case).**
 +
 +Pemba Lepcha (name changed), a small farmer in a GPU in **Mangan District**, had applied for PMAY-G in 2022. Two years on, his first installment had still not come, and the panchayat office could not say why. In March 2026 he filed an RTI to the **BDO of his block** with five questions — registration number, wait-list rank, geo-tag record, reasons for delay, and installment status — paid the Rs. 10 as an Indian Postal Order, and sent it by Speed Post. The BDO replied within 28 days: his name was on the permanent wait list at rank 41, his house had not yet been geo-tagged because the field visit was pending, and the next tranche release was scheduled for the following quarter. With that reply in hand, Pemba filed a CPGRAMS grievance and followed up with the panchayat; the geo-tagging visit happened within six weeks. **Total cost: Rs. 10 plus one Speed Post. Total time to a written answer: under 30 days.** The point is not the specific outcome — it is that a written, dated, signed reply turned an open-ended wait into a trackable process.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +This is exactly the pattern the RTI Act 2005 is designed for, and it works the same way for a Namchi or Gyalshing urban applicant chasing a PMAY-U / SUGAY installment through the UDHD.
 +
 +===== Common mistakes Sikkim applicants make =====
 +
 +  - **Addressing the wrong office.** Sending a PMAY-G application to UDHD, or a PMAY-U application to the BDO, guarantees a "not held" reply. Confirm the office first — see the table above.
 +  - **Using a court fee stamp as fee.** Sikkim's Rule 9(1) accepts only IPO, bank receipt or demand draft — a court fee stamp is not valid and can get the application returned. Use one of the three accepted modes.
 +  - **Treating Sikkim as postal-only.** It is not. File online at **rtionline.sikkim.gov.in** when you can; you get a time-stamped receipt and skip the postal cycle.
 +  - **Vague questions.** "Give me all details of my house" is too broad. Five specific, numbered questions get specific answers.
 +  - **Forgetting the BPL waiver.** Most PMAY-G families are BPL-eligible. Attach the BPL certificate and the Rs. 10 fee is waived under §7(5).
 +  - **Missing the appeal window.** The first appeal under §19(1) is due within 30 days of silence. Mark Day 31 on a calendar the day you file.
 +  - **Asking the PIO to act.** An RTI compels disclosure, not action. If the reply shows an error, pair it with a grievance, not another RTI.
 +  - **Skipping the receipt.** No postal / portal number = no proof of filing = no clean first appeal. Always keep it.
 +
 +===== Frequently asked questions =====
 +
 +==== Is there an online RTI portal for Sikkim? ====
 +Yes. The **RTI Portal, Sikkim** at **rtionline.sikkim.gov.in** lets you register, select a Sikkim public authority, upload your PMAY application and pay the Rs. 10 fee online. The central **rtionline.gov.in** mainly serves central ministries and is not the right route for a state PMAY PIO such as a Sikkim BDO.
 +
 +==== What is the RTI application fee in Sikkim? ====
 +Rs. 10 per application under the Sikkim State Right to Information (Regulation of Fee, Cost and Miscellaneous) Rules, 2005 (Rule 5(1)). Payable only by Indian Postal Order, bank receipt under Major Head 0070, or demand draft — these are the three modes Rule 9(1) lists. A court fee stamp is **not** accepted. BPL applicants pay nothing under §7(5).
 +
 +==== Where is the Sikkim Information Commission located? ====
 +At the **Old Secretariat, NH 10, Gangtok 737101, Sikkim**. Its website is **sicsikkim.nic.in** and email is **[email protected]**. The Commission was set up in 2006 under §15 of the RTI Act 2005.
 +
 +==== Which office do I file a PMAY RTI with in Sikkim? ====
 +For a rural (PMAY-Grameen) house, file with the **Block Development Officer (BDO)** of your block under the Rural Management & Development Department. For an urban (PMAY-Urban) house, file with the **Urban Local Body / UDHD**. See the office table above.
 +
 +==== Can a BPL family file a PMAY RTI for free in Sikkim? ====
 +Yes. Attach a self-attested copy of your BPL certificate and the Rs. 10 fee is waived under §7(5) of the RTI Act 2005. This is especially relevant because most PMAY-G beneficiaries are BPL-eligible.
 +
 +==== What is the deadline for a reply in Sikkim? ====
 +30 days from the date the PIO receives the application, under §7(1) of the RTI Act 2005. Where life or liberty is involved, the reply is due within 48 hours.
 +
 +==== What if the Sikkim PIO does not reply? ====
 +File a first appeal under §19(1) with the First Appellate Authority of the same public authority within 30 days (the Sikkim Rules fix a Rs. 100 first-appeal fee by bank receipt, Rule 12). If that fails, file a second appeal under §19(3) with the Sikkim Information Commission at Gangtok within 90 days (Rs. 100 fee by bank receipt, Rule 14).
 +
 +==== Is Sikkim postal-only for RTI? ====
 +No. That was a common misconception. Sikkim has a working online portal at **rtionline.sikkim.gov.in** and accepts IPO, bank receipt and demand draft for paper filings. Postal filing remains a guaranteed fallback under §6(1).
 +
 +==== What are the six districts of Sikkim? ====
 +After the Re-organisation of Districts Act 2021, Sikkim has six districts: **Gangtok, Pakyong, Namchi, Soreng, Gyalshing and Mangan**. Each has its own BDO offices for PMAY-G queries.
 +
 +==== Can I get another beneficiary's Aadhaar or bank details? ====
 +No. Personal information of third parties is exempt under §8(1)(j) unless you can show larger public interest. You can demand your own file in full, but not another citizen's personal data.
 +
 +==== Does the RTI force the BDO to release my installment? ====
 +No. The RTI compels disclosure, not action. Use the RTI reply as evidence and follow it with a grievance at CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in) or through **pmayg.dord.gov.in** / **pmaymis.gov.in** to push for the actual release.
 +
 +==== How is the PMAY-G wait list built in Sikkim? ====
 +From the **AwaasPlus** survey layered on the **SECC 2011** deprivation and exclusion parameters, managed on the national AwaasSoft system at pmayg.dord.gov.in. Sikkim's RMDD confirms beneficiaries are identified through the AwaasPlus app and ranked by priority.
 +
 +==== Can I file in Nepali or Hindi in Sikkim? ====
 +Yes. The RTI Act 2005 allows applications in English, Hindi or the official language of the area. Sikkim accepts applications in English, Hindi and Nepali. Use **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/awaaz-rti.html|AwaazRTI]]** to dictate your application in any of these.
 +
 +<WRAP center round info 100%>
 +**Reviewed for accuracy.** This Sikkim guide was fact-checked against live official sources on **19 July 2026** by **Dr. Shrawan Kumar Pathak** (legal review, RTI Act §§6/7/19) and **Kashvi Pathak** (state-rules and portal verification). Reviewers independently confirmed the Sikkim RTI Rules 2005 fee, the **rtionline.sikkim.gov.in** portal, the Sikkim Information Commission address and the RMDD / UDHD nodal split. The **Sikkim State Right to Information (Regulation of Fee, Cost and Miscellaneous) Rules, 2005** (Notification 230/GEN/DOP dated 22 December 2005) was re-verified in full: **Rule 5(1)** fixes the Rs. 10 application fee by bank receipt under Major Head 0070, and **Rule 9(1)** enumerates only **bank receipt, demand draft and Indian postal order** as fee modes — a **court fee stamp is not** a valid Sikkim RTI fee mode, and the Sikkim fee schedule (Rule 9(A)/(B)) has no floppy/diskette entry. If you find any office, fee or address changed since this review, please flag it — RTI Wiki updates verified facts only.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +===== Related guides and tools =====
 +
 +  * **[[/rti-for-pmay-status|RTI for PMAY housing — full national guide]]** (parent)
 +  * **[[/scheme-state/pmay/start|RTI for PMAY across all states]]**
 +  * **[[/state-scheme/sikkim/start|All RTI schemes for Sikkim]]**
 +  * **[[/state-rti-portals-directory|State RTI portals directory]]**
 +  * **[[/rti-fees-by-state|State-wise RTI fees]]**
 +  * **[[/act|RTI Act, 2005]]** and **[[/cases|case-law database]]**
 +  * **[[/first-appeal|First appeal]]** and **[[/second-appeal|Second appeal]]**
 +  * **[[/guide/applicant/application/sample/start|Sample RTI letters]]**
 +  * **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]]**
 +  * **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]]**
 +  * **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Calculator]]**
 +  * **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pio-reply-checker-app.html|PIO Reply Checker]]**
 +  * **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/awaaz-rti.html|AwaazRTI (voice)]]**
 +
 +===== Sources =====
 +  * **Sikkim State Right to Information (Regulation of Fee, Cost and Miscellaneous) Rules, 2005** — Notification No. 230/GEN/DOP dated 22/12/2005, gazette text: Rule 5(1) Rs. 10 fee by bank receipt; Rule 5(3) electronic-application payment; Rule 9(1) fee modes (bank receipt, demand draft, Indian postal order); Rule 9(A)–(B) photocopy Rs. 2/page and inspection Rs. 5/15 min; Rules 12 & 14 appeal fees Rs. 100; full PDF hosted by Government of Sikkim: https://www.sikkim.gov.in/uploads/DeptUploads/RULES_REGARDING_FEE_AND_COST_20221221.pdf.
 +  * **Department of Personnel, Government of Sikkim** — parent department for the Sikkim RTI Rules: https://dop.sikkim.gov.in/.
 +  * **Sikkim Information Commission** — address, email, establishment under §15, judgment orders and SPIO list: https://www.sikkim.gov.in/departments/sikkim-information-commission (and http://sicsikkim.nic.in).
 +  * **Sikkim RTI online portal** — "RTI Portal, Sikkim": https://rtionline.sikkim.gov.in.
 +  * **Rural Management & Development Department, Sikkim** — PMAY-Grameen nodal, Rural Housing cell, BDO structure: https://rmdd.sikkim.gov.in/visitors/21.
 +  * **Urban Development & Housing Department, Sikkim** — PMAY-Urban / SUGAY nodal, Paljor Stadium Road, Gangtok 737101: https://www.sikkim.gov.in/departments/urban-dev-housing-department.
 +  * **Sikkim Urban Garib Awas Yojana (SUGAY) Operational Guidelines** — state-funded urban housing aligned to PMAY-U: https://www.sikkim.gov.in/.
 +  * **PMAY-Grameen national portal (AwaasSoft)** — wait list, beneficiary, FTO: https://pmayg.dord.gov.in/.
 +  * **PMAY-Urban mission portals**: https://pmaymis.gov.in/ and https://pmay-urban.gov.in/.
 +  * **Right to Information Act, 2005** — §§6, 7, 8, 19: see **[[/act|RTI Act 2005 on RTI Wiki]]**.
 +  * **Sikkim Re-organisation of Districts Act, 2021** — Notification 26/L&PAD/2021 dated 13 December 2021 (six districts): https://www.sikkim.gov.in/.
 +  * **Central RTI online portal** (for central ministries, context only): https://rtionline.gov.in/.
 +
 +//Last reviewed: 19 July 2026.//
 +
 +{{tag>sikkim pmay state-scheme citizen-rti rti-template matrix-enriched}}