Where do we begin?
This is for all of us who sometimes despair and wonder where do we begin…
Courtesy, SakshiTrust here is one great tool to help you start: “RTI Guide for Improving the Urban Enviornment”…and what better place to begin than your own neighbourhood?
Download the guide, share it..and please spread the word…Together, we can win. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!
Related Post: A Great Model of Good Governance
Disclosure: I do not know the people behind Sakshi Trust personally but I was impressed enough with their work to sponsor the guide mentioned above.
Thanks a lot for the guide. Nice initiative.
I have shared this on my blog here
http://www.adityakumarnayak.com/2011/rti-guide-start-changing-india-sakshi-trust/
@Shantanu,
Thanks. I got the document before and we used it to raise two requests so far. Both are lost in the government hell but I guess we can wait. The RTIA law itself needs to be made somewhat time-bound but there are already efforts by government officials to weaken it. News like this is disturbing. A very good review of the law and it’s impact is here
Review of the RTI and it’s impact:
http://www.empowerpoor.org/backgrounder.asp?report=571
Shantanu: Is there a way to bring the groups together who are fighting against corruption. This will strengthen their impact and increase effectiveness and efficiency.
For e.g. ipaidabribe.com, Sakshi Trust, RTI, fightcorruption.wikidot.com etc?
||namO Bhaartam, namO Sanskritam||
@Aditya: Thanks…
@Sid: Thanks for the links…will have a look…
@AAryan: Expect a post on this soon…
*** UPDATE *** Just read this depressing news: Ministries ignore RTI obligation. Excerpts:
NEW DELHI: The attempt of the Central Information Commission (CIC), the final appellate authority for implementation of Right to Information (RTI) Act, to bring transparency in the functioning of government departments through voluntary disclosure of information on websites has come a cropper.
Of the 1,600 public authorities (government departments, apex bodies, autonomous organisations and ministries) listed by the Commission, only 125 have obeyed its directive and appointed transparency officers.
The macro picture at the central level is no better with only 34 of 70-odd ministries and apex bodies appointing transparency officers. The ministries of finance, home and culture and the Prime Minister’s Office have done nothing except expressing their intention to appoint a transparency officer.
When RTI Act was notified in October 2005, it had laid down that ministries should voluntarily disclose information and computerise records within 120 days. The Commission, in a circular to all public authorities on November 18 last year, had reminded them to undertake this exercise in a phased manner under a transparency officer. Every department had been given 15 days to appoint the officer.