Outgoing state chief information commissioner (CIC) Suresh Joshi holds the privilege of being the first state CIC under the Right to Information Act. He has upped the ante with his retirement, five years down the line. At the time of his exit, Maharashtra holds the distinction of having disposed off the maximum number of appeals in the country — 54,000 as of June, as compared to the Centre’s 50,000, and with fewer...

The on-going Mazdoor Satyagrah  has demanded the setting up of a accountability commission in the state. Activists of the Satyagrah will be writing to chief minister Ashok Gehlot asking him to do this. The demand follows alleged measures by the government to penalise MGNREGA workers and its own employees coming late to offices, alleged activists. "It is a follow-up of an exercise we did on Thursday. Having visited various government offices between...

A landmark ruling by the Central Information Commission raises hopes that government functioning will become more transparent. ON August 30, a three-member Bench of the Central Information Commission (CIC), New Delhi, gave a ruling that has the potential to bring under public scrutiny crucial aspects of the functioning of the Central and State governments that have remained hidden from the public glare all these years. The Bench, comprising Chief Information...

In a bitter reaction to payment of low wages of Re 1 under MNREGA in Rajasthan, the agitating activists of Suchna Evum Rozgar Ka Adhikar Abhiyan have decided to send this rare "feat" of the government to the " Guinness Book of World Record" as the only of its kind trend in the world. There have been instances in Rajasthan when Re 1 per day was paid as wages for...

Media persons from all over the country have a great opportunity to witness the dance of democracy in Jaipur beginning Gandhi Jayanti. A peaceful ‘dharna’ organized by grassroots organizations like the MKSS and RTI Manch, among others, is already attracting some of India’s top writers, editors, development thinkers and civil society activists, besides thousands of common people from all across Rajasthan. The movement will continue indefinitely from October 2 onwards...