Having spread the message of right to information to thousands of people in remote parts of Gujarat, the ‘RTI-on-Wheels’ is all set to roll into Mumbai. Equipped with a variety of electronic gadgets and manned by two volunteers, this vehicle goes about educating people on their rights under the Act.
Gujarat’s unique ‘RTI-on-Wheels’ is all set to roll into Mumbai on September 26, after having taken the message of the Right to Information (RTI) Act to around 80,000 people across Gujarat in the past five months since it was flagged off.
An initiative of Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP), ‘RTI-on-Wheels’ is a vehicle exclusively designed to create awareness as well as help the common man understand and effectively make use of his right to information.
The vehicle is equipped with an LCD projector, screen, computer with an Internet connection, scanner, printer, copier and a small library. It is manned by two volunteers who screen films on RTI, distribute pamphlets, hold public discussions on the Act, and help people file applications seeking information.
This is the first time ‘RTI-on-Wheels’ is moving outside the state on its outreach programme. Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT), a Mumbai-based NGO, will host the vehicle in the country’s commercial capital.
PCGT has eminent citizens like former police officer Julio Ribeiro and former cabinet secretary B.G. Deshmukh as its trustees, besides members committed to working for transparency and accountability in governance through RTI.
‘RTI-on-Wheels’ was flagged off on March 17, this year in Ahmedabad by Usha Dhavan, a physically challenged woman who won back her STD-PCO booth, using RTI, after a two-year-long struggle.
Since then, the vehicle has travelled across the districts of Rajkot, Surendranagar, Banaskantha, Baroda, Surat, Vapi and Valsad in Gujarat.
“The idea of launching ‘RTI-on-Wheels’ came from the RTI helpline we have been running for the last couple of years,” said Pankti Jog of MAGP. The NGO bought a Tata Sumo and modified it to allow a solar panel to be fixed over it to generate enough power to operate even in Gujarat’s rural areas.
“The challenge was to have a lot of things in a small vehicle,” said Amit Paul who designed the vehicle. Paul designed three flaps on the vehicle – two on the sides and one at the back – to enable the distribution of leaflets, filing of applications, multimedia presentations, and screening of films.
“The vehicle opens up completely and can be converted into a moving theatre. It also has illuminated screens on the sides with punchy slogans scrolling down,” Jog said.
The RTI Act was introduced in Maharashtra in 2005. Last year Maharashtra received 318,000 RTI applications, the highest in the country, higher even than the Central Information Commission that received 140,000 applications, said State Information Commissioner Suresh Joshi.
However, a lot needs to be done to popularise RTI amongst the common man, say RTI activists in Maharashtra. “Most applicants still don’t know the process of filing an RTI application,” points out Mohammed Afzal, an RTI activist.
It was for this very reason that the Public Concern for Governance Trust decided to invite ‘RTI-on-Wheels’ to Mumbai.
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The vehicle is equipped with an LCD projector, screen, computer with an Internet connection, scanner, printer, copier and a small library. It is manned by two volunteers who screen films on RTI, distribute pamphlets, hold public discussions on the Act, and help people file applications seeking information.
This is the first time ‘RTI-on-Wheels’ is moving outside the state on its outreach programme. Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT), a Mumbai-based NGO, will host the vehicle in the country’s commercial capital.
PCGT has eminent citizens like former police officer Julio Ribeiro and former cabinet secretary B.G. Deshmukh as its trustees, besides members committed to working for transparency and accountability in governance through RTI.
‘RTI-on-Wheels’ was flagged off on March 17, this year in Ahmedabad by Usha Dhavan, a physically challenged woman who won back her STD-PCO booth, using RTI, after a two-year-long struggle.
Since then, the vehicle has travelled across the districts of Rajkot, Surendranagar, Banaskantha, Baroda, Surat, Vapi and Valsad in Gujarat.
“The idea of launching ‘RTI-on-Wheels’ came from the RTI helpline we have been running for the last couple of years,” said Pankti Jog of MAGP. The NGO bought a Tata Sumo and modified it to allow a solar panel to be fixed over it to generate enough power to operate even in Gujarat’s rural areas.
“The challenge was to have a lot of things in a small vehicle,” said Amit Paul who designed the vehicle. Paul designed three flaps on the vehicle – two on the sides and one at the back – to enable the distribution of leaflets, filing of applications, multimedia presentations, and screening of films.
“The vehicle opens up completely and can be converted into a moving theatre. It also has illuminated screens on the sides with punchy slogans scrolling down,” Jog said.
The RTI Act was introduced in Maharashtra in 2005. Last year Maharashtra received 318,000 RTI applications, the highest in the country, higher even than the Central Information Commission that received 140,000 applications, said State Information Commissioner Suresh Joshi.
However, a lot needs to be done to popularise RTI amongst the common man, say RTI activists in Maharashtra. “Most applicants still don’t know the process of filing an RTI application,” points out Mohammed Afzal, an RTI activist.
It was for this very reason that the Public Concern for Governance Trust decided to invite ‘RTI-on-Wheels’ to Mumbai.
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