-PTI President Pratibha Patil today announced she will forego the accommodation allotted to her for use after retirement following reports that the land for the house was given in violation of rules. “Considering the fact that the issue has got linked with the issue of war widows’ accommodation… the President has chosen to forego the aforesaid allotment of accommodation proposed to be made to her as her post-retirement home in Pune,” Rashtrapati...

-PTI Right To Information activist Anil Galgali has asked Anna Hazare to prevail upon Maharashtra Government to cancel the new RTI rules in the state. The new rules stipulate that any request for information must not exceed 150 words, should be related to one subject matter only and if required, separate applications must be made if it relates to more than one topic, Galgali, Chairman of Athak Seva Sangh, said. Amendments in...

-PTI An RTI activist here has demanded that the Maharashtra government should cancel the amendments made in the state RTI Act as it may deter people from seeking information. Athak Seva Sangh chairman Anil Galgali said one of the new rules stipulate that any request for information must not exceed 150 words, which may deter people, especially semi-literate and from underprivileged sections who lack concise drafting skills, to file RTI. Amendments like one...

-The Telegraph Reclaimed from Maoists, the natural reserves of Saranda are up against unscrupulous adversaries. At least four mining firms have been extracting iron ore and manganese against their sanctioned capacities in this West Singhbhum region since 2008 right under the nose of the mines department and Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB). The startling fact came to light this January after the two laggard state offices replied to separate RTI petitions filed...

I recently wrote in this column about two cases where individual efforts to fight corruption and inefficient system brought results. Alas, it is fraught with difficulties and sometimes danger. Manjulaben Vaghela lives in Pardhol village in Dascroi taluka. She for past four years has been trying to get an electricity connection for her chhapra. Starting with the GEB, she has appealed to everyone concerned including the CM's secretariat. This has caused her...