RTI Awareness on Radio

The fruits on the converge of Bangalore citizens coming together for spreading the message of RTI beared today.

Radio Awareness was done by

1. Vikram Simha on Radio Mirchi-8 am to 10 am
   
2. Anil Kumar and Kathyayini Chamaraj took part in a programme on RTI on FM Rainbow from 1.00 PM to 2.00 PM called Lunch Box today
3. Navendu on Radio City- 10.45 to 11 am.

The message by me was crisp and simple.

On 12 October 2005, 2 years ago, The Right to Information (RTI) Act was institutionalized, RTI is an ac that is powerful enough to revolutionize governance with more transparency.

Many sensitive citizens crib about the traffic system, bad roads, power cuts, bad infrastructure, rising pollution etc. But never convert these feelings into actions by questioning the government system. Every one of you has a question to ask the government about its mismanagement.

In pursuit of asking questions, the government department becomes more accountable and takes action much faster.

For example: You see a mud road in the Bangalore with no sign of development, you can apply for RTI asking when this road will be developed, witness the tendering process, be part of the inspection team once the road is being made. For making the system better, we have to better citizens first. If there is a traffic police absent at a major junction, you can now ask for his attendance register using RTI.

Because of RTI act, there is now a transition from a secretive system of governance to one of openness, where citizens can demand access to information held by the government. Using RTI, there has been growing number of successful stories where people have actively taken up the charge to fight corruption and injustice.

Laxmi Hariharan, who stays near Magadi Road, missed her convocation as well as her degree, for 9 years she was moving from one desk to another asking for her degree. She applied for RTI application asking where her degree is, in 17 days she was given her degree.

In Belgaum, poor slum dwellers used the RTI Law to see what stocks had come to their local shop and how these have been distributed. They demanded to see the records of receipt, sale and distribution of their items. After reluctance the shop owners disclosed the information. The stock books are now regularly available for inspection.

Every citizen has the right to know how the government is spending the tax payers money. Without people questioning how money is being spent, there is always a temptation for the government to misuse it. In Maharashtra, retired General Sudhir Jathar used RTI Act to access log books of cars being used for official purposes. He found that the cars were used to visit tourist resorts at Nasik, Shirdi, Lonavala and Khandala. The log book also showed that an official was present at two places at the same time.

As I said, For making the system better, we have to better citizens first.

Remember AS I AM, SO IS MY NATION

Jai Hind

Special thanks to Radio Mirchi- Bijoy and Vineeta to arrange for this. Radio City-Vasanti and Preeti.
Looking at the response of callers, i believe and hope this becomes a weekly event.