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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | RTI a ‘tool of governance’ in the hands of common man

RTI a ‘tool of governance’ in the hands of common man

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published Published on Oct 12, 2009   modified Modified on Oct 12, 2009


Right to Information Act completes four years of its enactment 

Democratic struggle is an integral part of social change, says Chief Information Commissioner

‘Transparency and accountability are integral to the success of Right to Information’

When Mazloom Nadaf was sanctioned Rs.25,000 by the gram panchayat under the Indira Niwas Yojana, he knew little of the struggle that awaited him.

This 70-year-old rickshaw puller from Bihar’s Madhubani district begged and pleaded for three years to receive the money but to no avail. After all to the block development office he was just a septuagenarian rickshaw puller. Mazloom finally found justice with the help of the Right to Information Act. Many such stories were shared at a national convention on the Right to Information in the Capital on Sunday which was organised by Kabir -- a platform for Right to Information (RTI) -- Social Watch India, United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC), and Wada Na Todo Abhiyan.

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah stressed the need for democratic struggle which he said was an integral part of social change. “The RTI is one such example. Over the past four years, we have seen people struggle to bring it into the limelight and as a result of this, the RTI has continued to evolve.” According to Wada Na Toda Abhiyan convenor Amitabh Behar, the RTI was the most significant paradigm shift in governance in recent times. “Transparency and accountability are integral to the success of RTI, which needs also to be backed by a formal mechanism for public support. The movement is still young but I’m hopeful the success stories I’ve heard today are heart-warming -- of poor people helping themselves and those around them.” Sharing his views, Jagadnanda, State Information Commissioner, Orissa Information Commission, said: “RTI is helping the common man become empowered. Through the RTI there have been major inroads in dealing with poverty -- there is no other comparable tool available. What we need now are youth RTI ambassadors to take the message forward. Also, at the government level, archaic information systems and their outdated mindsets need to change.” The convention brought together citizens’ voices from across the country on the occasion of the RTI Act completing four years of its enactment. For the first time, the actual users of RTI from the grassroots were provided a platform at the national level to share experiences of how RTI has helped them access government services better.

The consultation highlighted the use of RTI as a “tool of governance” in the hands of the people to ensure that basic services and entitlements relating to health, education and livelihoods are reached, leading to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the National Development Goals. The convention came out with suggestions like request for the hearings of the appellate authorities to be taken to the village level, creation of a people’s helpline , monthly progress reports at various Information Commissions on how many RTIs have been filed and what progress has been made on them.


The Hindu, 12 October, 2009, http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/12/stories/2009101260510300.htm
 

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