RTI campaign to raise awareness : Powerful tool

RTI campaign to raise awareness

 NDTV Correspondent

Saturday, July 1, 2006 (New Delhi):

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A nationwide awareness-cum-assistance campaign has been launched where people will be encouraged to not pay bribes. The Drive Against Bribes will be on from July 1-15.

Nearly 1500 trained volunteers will be available at centres in 48 cities around the country. Eight media partners and more than 700 civil society groups are a part of this initiative.

CONTACT DETAILS National Helpline- 0 92504 92504 SMS RTI (City Name) to 6388 to get venue of camp in your city Website: www.righttoinformation.org Postal address: RTI, Post Bag No 9201, Delhi-92

Right to Information has emerged as a powerful tool in the hands of common citizens to hold governments accountable.

People have used it in various ways ranging from addressing issues related to their daily interface with government authorities to influencing major government policies.

Powerful tool

With the passage of the Right to Information Act 2005 by the Parliament of India, now it is available to all citizens against all public authorities in India.

One such success story is that of Nannu, a daily wage labourer in Delhi, who approached the RTI authorities for a grievance regarding his ration card.

“In January, my local ration dealer told me that he had lost my ration card and said that I would get it back only if I paid up. I told them I do not have that much money and will not pay up. I warned them that if in two days they didn’t give my ration card, I would complain against them. Those people under-estimated my capabilities. The people at my local ration shop also tried to stop me from lodging a complaint. I made a trip every week to check the status of my ration card and the official there told me that it would take time.

“On March 15 I finally went to Parivartan and met a man called Anand and asked him how much time it took to get a ration card back. He told me my ration card was long overdue. That is when I lodged my RTI. I complained on March 18 and on March 22 I was told that my ration card was ready. RTI did for me what money could never have done. I feel that RTI is the only police and the best service.”