Vol 10 Issue 5
NGOCT
www.ngoconnect.org
Sept-Oct 2013
"There's nothing to stop anyone from learning anything. Where is it written that just because you can't read and write, you can't become an engineer?”
E N N O C
- Bunker Roy, founder of the Barefoot College, Tilonia
Regn. no. MAHENG/2004/15104
India’s First NGO Newstabloid CONNECTiNG The freedom to know On the anniversary of the RTI Act, let us dedicate it to the nameless and faceless RTI Activist-- that man or woman who insistently goes to the offices of various public authorities, filing RTI applications, appeals, attending hearings, seeking justice from an unjust and insensitive system. The Right to Information Act 2005 has empowered the common man to question government servants and hold them accountable--by corresponding with lakhs of Public Information Officers (PIOs), thousands of First Appellate Authorities, and over a hundred Information Commissioners in various States. The term 'RTI activist' generally encompasses the entire civil society movement consisting of lakhs of independent citizens, plus a few hundred NGOs, who are questioning the administration on various issues, public or private. No two RTI activists are the same. Some are habituated to filing hundreds of RTI applications to a wide range of government authorities on a variety of issues. They unearth hundreds of documents and get them published by the media, throwing light on a wide variety of issues. Other activists drill deep into one or two issues for years. Others try to get their individual or collective grievances redressed by using RTI applications as a pressure tactic. Some are neighbourhood watchdogs, Others are RTI trainers, helpers, mentors, webmasters, journalists etc., who find fulfillment by helping other people file RTI applications and appeals. A defining characteristic of RTI activists is that they are fiercely independent and notoriously difficult to organize into hierarchical groups. Generally, they spend money from their own pockets. Unlike NGOs, RTI activists get no government funding or corporate sponsors. They are usually unable to conform to organisational norms of behavior, and hence, cannot form associations or political parties. The RTI movement is an ongoing revolution. It is a statement of the common man's faith in the democratic system that, though corroded and crooked, still somehow works. It is an authentic grassroots-level Satyagraha movement, On 12th October, 2013, we salute his massive body of men and women. They are the keepers of the sacred flame of India. (excerpts from Krish 98215 88114 Mumbai).
Remembering heroes 8th anniversary of RTI Act Newspapers wrote pages about the effect of RTI on governance in India, and organisations celebrated the 8th Anniversary of RTI Act on Oct. 12, with a salute to India's defending champions. This anniversary honours not just a popular legislation called the RTI Act 2005, but also the legion of heroes of the RTI movement. Some heroes of this revolutionary movement are iconic. They earned recognition and love for their pioneering work, for kindling a vast grassroots movement by spreading awareness and detailed knowledge of the RTI Act and RTI rules. They are forcing the government to respect the common man, more than they ever have since Independence. To cope with this flood of requests for information, this very government created, within a very short time after October 2005, a vast administrative machinery consisting of lakhs of Public Information Officers, First Appellate Authorities and Information Commissioners. P a r a d o x i c a l l y, o u r c o l l e c t i v e unhappiness with the implementation of Right to Information is largely because this legal right is being used by so many people! RTI Act is giving rise to literally tens of thousands of interactions with various organs of administration, which simply did not exist before 2005. At first sight, it may seem as though the pent-up fury of 55 years of Independence has been released; there is a flood that is unstoppable. But first, consider these facts:
interactions concern matters of public interest. Some people are using RTI systematically to focus on certain aspects of public policy, and they are putting out well-reasoned, thoroughly researched reports to the government. Simultaneously, knowledgeable citizens and political activists, angered by the bad quality of administration, are trying to enforce accountability and expose scams in order to make a point. They are filing complaints, public interest litigations (PILs), and potent media reports. This activity is both revolutionary and subversive. On the one hand, it is pushing the administration to self-correct. On the other hand, it is stoking antiestablishment sentiments by heaping shame on all government and administration authorities, by using its own laws, rules and mechanisms. The government responds by studiously ignoring these modern-day revolutionaries, and reserving the Padma awards and state benefits for cricketers, bollywood actors and other celebrities. RTI activists are daily doing the thankless job of cleaning up the administration in their villages, talukas, district-headquarte rs and small towns. Unrecognized, unrewarded RTI activists, often are recognised only after they have been assaulted or murdered.
TN farmers say ‘No’ to Monsanto Chennai: A number of farmers, students and activists hit the streets on Oct. 12, taking a stand against genetically-modified crops. The march against Monsanto, a multinational chemical and agricultural
biotechnology corporation, was held in hundreds of cities as part of a global protest against genetically-modified food. Demonstrators on Marina beach held placards that read ‘Don’t dig your own grave with your own knife and fork.’ Genetically-modified crops are grown from seeds that are engineered to resist pests and improve crop yields. But the protestors said geneticallymodified organisms could harm the environment. The protestors also stressed the need to reject the corporatisation of food systems. “ Monsanto is only interested in their profits- not farmers said Ananthoo, a member of the Safe Food Alliance. “”India is an experimental field for Monsanto. Genetically-modified crops pollute the natural resources of communities. I also have a farm in Periyapalayam where I try to preserve our native seeds and crops,” said actor Pasupathi. Kumari, from the Gandhi Farmers’ Collective, Villupuram, said the Central and some state governments were going against citizens’ demands.“We want to save our land,” said A. Annamalai, a farmer from Viluppuram. “The technology has the potential to jeopardise future generations,” said C. Nandakumar, a student from SRM University. “Our farmers have always produced enough to feed the country. We will not allow any open air field trials of GM food crops in the State,” said Vettavalam Manikandan, president of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association.
Government Employees: Roughly half of RTI interactions (applications and appeals) are of government employees (or former government employees) trying to get their service matters resolved in matters relating to transfers, promotions, selections, pensions etc. Aggrieved Citizens: The other half of RTI interactions are primarily of private citizens seeking to resolve their own private grievances. Some RTI applications are for follow-up of complaints or representations to various government departments, quasi-judicial or even judicial forums. RTI is enabling them to actively pursue their fundamental rights. Public-Interest Campaigners, Academics & Whistle-Blowers . A small but significant percentage of RTI 1
A protest on Marina beach saw activists, farmers and students demonstrate against Monsanto, its alleged unethical practices and corporate control over agriculture