The RTI activists' fights

Times of India: Nagpur: Sunday, April 14, 2013.

After voting rights if there has been any other weapon which has empowered an Indian citizen it is the Right to Information (RTI). RTI is used to seek information about matters which affect the aamadami. How much of information is being handed out is still a contentious issue, but the act has definitely created a battalion of social activists.

An RTI activist is not exactly the harried underdog who runs from pillar to post. The rules state that the information has to be given within 30 days otherwise the applicant can go into first appeal. A fine of Rs250 per day is to be paid by the department to the applicant in case of a delay with no charges for giving the information.

"But this is only in letter and not in spirit," says Rajeev Jagtap, a 50-year-old member of Jan Manch whose organization has filed around 300 applications. "The harassment begins from the time when I go to an office to give the application. The guy there refuses to accept it saying 'abhi sahib nahin hain." Jagtap, who usually seeks information on issues relating to RTO, traffic and police department, says "It requires loads of patience and pursuance. Many times the thought crosses my mind as to why am I doing it."

A veteran of 90 such applications, retired banker Abhay Kolarkar has had better experience with central government agencies. " LIC, RBI and PF departments give quick replies." The information received is useful and clears ambiguity he says citing the example of the information that he could obtain from Indian Oil about the lock in period for booking a refill after a cylinder has been delivered. "My family grumbles about my involvement but I will continue to spend money from my pocket for public good."

"It is a big help as it prevents consumers from being exploited by the vendor," says Avinash Prabhune, a junior engineer with the MSEB Koradi plant who has filed about fifty applications. "The officials try to scuttle the efforts as it is having an impact on their style of working. Previously, they would carelessly say, 'jaa na court main,' but now this information even helps in preparing for a court case."

Prabhune's efforts have been recognized as he has been appointed as authorized consumer representative in individual category on the MERC panel.

Appalled with the levels of corruption prevailing in government offices, civil contractor Mohan Karemore resorted to the RTI application to fight the menace. "People who started much after me began amassing wealth. I wanted to know the methods at work," says Karemore about the reason for being an RTI activist. "I have filed more than 1000 applications and have got replies to a majority of them," he says. "The government agencies are scared and I am beginning to get threats now." he says.

Though the society may applaud the efforts of an RTI activist, their family at times gets irritated. "My family chides me because at times I work for more than 12 hours preparing applications," says Ashok Langewar, retired head of the department of community medicine at IGMC.

"But they allow me this space as they also realize that I'm doing it for social good," says Langewar whose organization Akrosh has filed 'countless' applications since 2005. "Those who fight don't count their actions. And it is a big fight as government officials still feel that they can stonewall the efforts by not releasing the information."

Not just elderly, even the young have realized the power of this tool. "My mother gets upset with all this activism," says 24-year-old Ankita Shah, an interior designer and a veteran of 40 RTI applications. Heavily influenced by Anna Hazare, Shah is now studying law as it helps her file applications.

"NMC, NIT and ESIC are the worst departments in this regard. They don't even know the rules," she says and adds that once she had to fight with municipal commissioner Sanjiv Jaiswal's PA to submit an application. "The superintendent engineer at NIT called a meeting of all his departments to decide on how to answer my applications," says Shah who has now given a petition to the governor for removal of state information commissioner Bhaskar Rao Patil for his ineffectiveness. "I was shocked to know that so far only 1800 cases have gone in appeal and of that, only 1500 have been heard in the state."

The attempts of the administration to scuttle all efforts of an RTI applicant not only brings his hard work to a naught but also at times makes him an object of ridicule. "My friends often tell me why you are wasting your time," says 38-year-old businessman Dinesh Naidu.

"The government agencies have trained themselves into how not to give proper replies. This is very frustrating. One has to be consistent and patient to make it work," says Naidu who feels that retired government officials should be at the forefront of the RTI movement.

Not one to get bogged down with official apathy, Nitin Chaudhary, the president of Lokadhikar Manch says that this tool requires more teeth. "Only acquiring information is not sufficient. We need action in that direction too," he says and adds vested interests and opportunism are violating the spirit of RTI today. "But the battle is on as RTI is even more powerful than the question hour of Parliament."