Promoting RTI Awareness at the Grassroots

CUTS Centre for Consumer Action, Research &Training (CUTS CART) organised a launch cum

orientation workshop under the second phase of Rightto Information (RTI) project ‘Reforming the processes inthe Rural Development Department through Policy andCivic Engagement, based on RTI Act 2005’ (RePoRDD)in Jaipur, on June 13-14, 2009.

Project OverviewThe project is conceptualised and implemented by

CUTS CART in partnership with the Partnership forTransparency Fund (PTF), an international NGO basedin Washington DC. The project which is for a durationof one year started from May 2009.

The project is being implemented in twoadministrative districts of Rajasthan state viz., Jaipurand Tonk with a rural community based approach. Itsobjective is to provide a common platform to all selectedConsortium of Groups for Combating Corruption(CGCC) members and orient them about the projectgoals, objectives, outputs and activities.

The Launch MeetingThe launch meeting commenced with the

introductory remarks by George Cheriyan, Director,CUTS. He laid emphasis on the potential of RTI forbringing transparency and accountability. Whilebriefing about the project, he said that setting up of awatchdog group (CGCC), generating awareness amongthe rural mass about RTI and its filing process, is one ofthe highlights of the project.

Shailesh Gandhi, Information Commissioner,Central Information Commission, New Delhi whiledelivering the inaugural address said, “Furtheramendment to the RTI Act is one of the major possibledangers to the Act”. He called upon the commonmass to join hands and fight against the possiblechallenges.

Harinesh Pandya, Maheti Adhikar Gujarat Pahelsaid that filing RTI applications in high numbers is the

only way to bring accountability and transparency. Hesaid that the Act has not only benefited the common manbut also people in administration as it has reducedundue interference of the people in power.

Later the gathering of RTI activists and CSOs fromthe state unanimously raised the collective concern tothe Government of India over the announced ‘suitableamendments’ to the RTI Act, and also to the Governmentof Rajasthan to take appropriate steps for the effectiveimplementation of the Act in the State.

First Orientation WorkshopAbout 75 RTI activists participated in the workshop,

which included representatives of more than 40 civilsociety organisations (CSOs) from the selected 11 ruralblocks of Jaipur working on RTI Act. Out of these 40CSOs, representatives of 30 CSOs were selected asCGCCs.

This event provided an opportunity to the project teamto share valuable views of the participants; promotingthe use of RTI Act, 2005; and reforming the corruptprocesses in Rural Development Department so thattransparency and accountability in service delivery anddecision-making processes could be enhanced.

All the CGCCs were provided a task of filing moreand more RTI applications in select schemes, likeNational Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, IndiraAavas Yojana and Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana.

Launch Meeting ......................................................... 2

Visit of Bangladeshi Delegation .............................. 2

RTI Success Stories ................................................. 3

What is RTI? .............................................................. 4

CART in Media ........................................................... 4

I N T H I S I S S U E

RTI in ActionObtaining Information for Reforming the Processes No. 1. 2009

CUTS CART

2 / www.cuts-international.org / 2009 / No. 1

Visit of BangladeshiDelegation

On June 05, 2009, a group of four peoplefrom SHARIQUE (Local GovernanceProgramme in Rajshahi and Sunamganj),Bangladesh visited CUTS. The visit wasfacilitated by CHRI to understand thefunctioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions(PRIs) in Rajasthan and how theimplementation of the RTI Act has broughtabout changes as far as transparency andaccountability of local self governinginstitutions are concerned.

A brief overview of CUTS and itsprogramme areas and current interventionsin the areas of ‘Good Governance’ and‘Access to Information’ were provided.Information was imparted on the learnings,findings and outcomes of the Phase I and IIof RTI project. Queries raised by them werealso answered.

The delegation visited Gram Panchayatnamed Harsuliya under Phagi PanchayatSamiti. (selected for developing as a modelGram Panchayat under RePoRDD project)and learnt about the functioning andimplementation of RTI Act in their GramPanchayat. Madhu Sudan Sharma and OmPrakash Arya met with the group andfacilitated the visit.

When aid reaches the masses, the country will shine.So do not take bribes, corruption is a crime.

Second Orientation WorkshopThe second, two-day

Orientation Workshop was held inTonk on June 18-19, 2009. ZilaPramukh of Tonk, Ram VilasChaudhari was the chief guest. Dr.Rakesh Ranjan fromCommonwealth Human RightsInitiatives (CHRI), Madhya Pradeshwas the external resource person.

While addressing theparticipants, Chaudhariemphasised on the fact that the mainpurpose of the RTI Act was toempower the common people at thegrassroots so that they couldacquire any kind of informationfrom the government and could bepart of the governance. He alsostated that the governmentconceptualises different schemes forthe welfare of the citizens but due todeep rooted corruption in theadministration, common people arenot able to avail benefits which is amatter of great concern.

Madhu Sudan Sharma briefedall the participants about the projectactivities. He also informed about

the ‘RTI Advisory & Information Centre’ established at CUTS CART onMay 01, 2009 and the formation of CGCC groups.

Rakesh Ranjan delivered the presentation on “Potential of RTI Act as aGood Governance Tool”. He stated that transparency, accountability,responsibility and participation are some of the key aspects of goodgovernance. He emphasised the fact that for proper implementation andmonitoring of different developmental schemes, public participation wasvery important.

Ranjan stated two reasons for corruption in the administration: one islack of knowledge among the people; and second is red tapism or delayingthe procedure. Both reasons force the common man to pay in cash or kindso as to get their work done. In the end, he recommended that now it is thecollective responsibility of all CGCCs and local CSOs to inculcate the habitof using RTI Act against corrupt processes among common people.

About 50 RTI activists, five youth belonging to Nehru Yuva Kendra andrepresentatives of more than 25 CSOs of all the selected six blocks of Tonkdistrict participated in the workshop. Out of these 25 CSOs, all were selectedas CGCCs.

RTI helps Man from Biharbecome a Civil Judge

RTI Act can get you a job. Sounds unbelievable? Ask 30-year-oldDhirendra Kumar, who is now a civil judge in Dumroan in Bihar, failed

to clear the Bihar Judicial Services Examination in 2007, or at least hisresult showed so. But it was his confidence of having done well in the examand the power of the RTI Act that helped him undo the injustice meted out tohim. For this, he is a nominee for the National RTI Award in the Best CitizenCategory.

Kumar received a jolt when he could not find his name in the list ofcandidates selected for the interview, he then filed a RTI application to requesthis score in all the subjects covered in the exam. There were around 800people on the interview list but Kumar’s name was missing. The BiharPublic Service Commission (BPSC) told Kumar that his marks could not berevealed till the interview process was completed. His RTI application,however, forced the BPSC to post the marks of all the candidates, who hadappeared for the interview, on the Commission’s website.

Kumar had received 451 marks, which was much higher than thosecalled for interview. When enquiring from the BPSC, he was told to file onemore RTI application to know the reason for not calling him for an interview.Kumar then filed his second RTI application but did not receive any response.

When he again went to the BPSC office, the Public Information Officer(PIO) told him that the cutoff for the post he had applied for was much higherthan what he had scored, but Kumar obtained a copy of his BPSC application,using RTI, and proved that his exam score made him eligible for the interview.

The PIO then contacted Kumar and gave him the first written reply to hisRTI application, which said that he would be called for interview. He clearedthe interview and is a civil judge today. (HT, 16.06.09)

No. 1 / 2009 / www.cuts-international.org / 3

Raise a hand, raise a finger. Do any thing, but do not corruption longer. – Ban-Ki-moon, General Secretary, UNO

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