RTI Is Friend To All

RTI Is Friend To All

Why  Do I  Recommend  RTI  For Everyone ?

By:Raman Sharma

Let everyone know that Right to Information Act is not focused against anyone and it can only serve the interest of the society and a right-doing person has no reason to worry about this act. Often officers say that people are using RTI to defame and encroach privacy of the officers and also to grind personal gains. But such allegations are baseless, since the provisions of the RTI do not allow any applicant to interfere in personal life of any  individual unless public money is involved in the case.

Now  if the officers want to say that their family members are using official vehicle for the private parties and picnics and people do ask about such details then it cannot be said that applicants are in anyway encroaching upon their privacy.

RTI  is  perhaps the only law which enables even an individual to make government machinery working. We all know in our country and particularly in Jammu and Kashmir innocent people have to come on streets, they are forced to adopt the path of violence and draw attention of the media and only then an FIR is registered forget the follow up done by the agencies,  but  with  the  power  of  Right  to  Information Act  the people need  not  to do such  hectic  exercises  for  their  democratic  rights.

If  officers  want  to   say  that  if  they are keeping an innocent person in illegal confinement and some RTI applicant ask them to give reason for the illegal detention; then is that also breach of privacy of the officer(s)?  RTI is just to make officers and government accountable so that no injustice is done to the citizens.

The perception that RTI is against the bureaucrats and government officers is totally false, Right to Information can even help them. In many cases the government officers have been able to get justice with the help of RTI Act. Their illegal and void transfer orders have been revert back.  Many retired employees have been able to get their pension cases settled which were pending for the past so many years. Now, employees using RTI to get details of their G.P.F and P.F funds.

Once again it is advised that do not be afraid of RTI power but you also need to exercise this right and feel the essence of the democracy.  

For, every member of our society RTI has a significant role.

For students: They can use RTI to get information related to excess fee charged, delay in exams and results, and against error in declared result.

For Legal Professionals: The legal fertility can use this act to collect evidences and gathering details like orders, circulars regarding the case, so that they can pursue their case effectively and help the judiciary in deciding the case in a time bound manner.

For Patients: From any health institute the patient or his family member can seek every detail related to the facilities a patient entitled to avail thus making the institute to give better services.

For Housewives: They need and can use this act more effectively, if a housewife is not able to get her booked LPG cylinder in prescribed time then she may approach the Oil company and can ask the reason for delay ultimately making the agency holder to act and ensure delivery well in time.

For Consumers: With increasing buying habits we all are becoming victim of the companies and individuals, often we are served with poor quality of service and low quality material. With the help of RTI we can make these companies accountable. If a person is being deprived of the service which he is suppose to be provided then he may approach the head of the company concerned through an RTI application.

For Civil Society: Now, people need not to worry about poor condition of the road or an open manhole. Just file an RTI application to the department concerned and how fast road is being done and manhole comes back. Or a broken letter box is repaired in a few days.

For Politicians: The politicians always remain busy in gathering information which can bring the weakness of the government so that they can build pressure on the government. The politicians can use RTI to bring the corruption of any department into notice of the government and public. Ultimately it also serves the interest of the general public.

For Historians: RTI can be helpful to historians who are engaged in writing on past events; they can seek the copy of documents and can use that in his assignment.

For Government: RTI can serve the government even in a much broader way, it helps in building a habit of accountability and transparency amongst the officers. It also reduces fake and heavy TA, DA bills of the officers and officials. Channelize the hotchpotch system of the government offices.

For NGO's: In our system NGO's play an important for the welfare of the downtrodden people of the society. They have been able to bring significant changes be it women empowerment or girl education. The NGO's can seek information on any issue of public importance and make department concerned to act on that. They can also seek information related to various schemes run by the different agencies of the government.

For Journalists: Journalists play the role of all above mentioned members of the society they have  even more responsibilities and are epicenter of  expectations of the society members. They have a crucial role to play. For the  RTI is a never ending source  of daily stories, as far as profession of journalism is concerned  there is a need and appetite of gathering information for self use and for references in the stories. Thus recommending RTI to journalists must be appreciated.

There is no one in our society who cannot feel the wonderful experiences of RTI. Hence every member of the society should exercise his democratic right and file at least one application under Right to Information Act.

Writer, Raman Sharma is a devoted RTI activist, feedback@: jkrtiact@gmail.com