About RTI
Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 was passed by the Indian Parliament to bring transparency in an environment riddled with intrigue, secrecy and corruption. People have used this law very effectively to bring about changes that are both big and small.
In about three and a half years of its working, the RTI Act has fundamentally changed the power equation between the government and the governed – those who wield power of the state in any form on the one hand and millions of those who are affected by the decisions and working of the state machinery on the other. Thanks to the RTI Act, in India, the “Public Servants” are finally being forced to recognize their real Master- the Common Man.
No other law on India’s statute book gives citizens so much power, so simply, to question any public authority in the country. The RTI Act even allows the citizens to inspect government files, take copies of their documents, inspect government work and collect sample of materials for the same.
Indians have a historic opportunity to root out corruption and the culture of secrecy in government affairs and instead pave the way for governance reform, greater accountability and transparency in government affairs. Across the country, a growing number of people (a handful of examples are listed below) are using RTI applications as a weapon to fight corruption and demand their rights.
- Nannu, a daily wage labourer from Delhi slums, was asked for a bribe to make his ration card. But when he used RTI, his card was made within a week.
- Kanniram, a very poor person in Rajasthan, started getting his rations after he used RTI.
- Mazloom, a rickshaw puller in Bihar, was demanded Rs 5000 bribe to give his entitlement under Indira Awas Yojana. His application was pending for almost three years. When he used RTI, the first cheque was handed over to him within 15 days.
- Wrongdoings in PM Relief Fund and Maharashtra CM’s relief fund have been exposed through RTI.
- Wrongdoings in IIT JEE 2006 exam have come to light through RTI. These were subsequently addressed by IIT authorities.
RTI is enabling people to say no to bribes. Earlier they felt completely helpless when they approached a government department. Now, if they know how to use RTI, they can get their work done. RTI has been used to bring about policy changes as well as to feed hungry mouths. It is an all encompassing act with consequences that have prompted some to say that it is the most important legislation since independence.
Motivation for the RTI Awards
Despite the power of RTI to transform Indian democracy, the Act faces stiff opposition from many sections of the government, particularly the bureaucracy. For example many Officers are not performing satisfactorily. Some Information Commissioners, who are the final adjudicating authority under the Act, are perceived to be sympathetic to bureaucrats. But there are many among the bureaucrats who are committed to transparency and honesty. They go over and beyond the call of duty to implement the RTI Act in letter and spirit.
Our intent is to honour and recognize the best among these officers and commissioners. We hope that by recognizing their contribution they can serve as role models for the bureaucratic community as a whole and encourage others to follow in their footsteps and strive to emulate their achievements. The awards will also serve as an opportunity to gather valuable data about the performance of a large number of PIOs and Information Commissioners across the country. This data can go a long way in identifying shortcomings in the current system of RTI and suggesting possible reforms.