Hindustan Times: Ahmedabad: Monday, November 03, 2014.
With the
newly formed state government announcing on Friday that it would bring in the
Right to Services legislation to ensure timely services by government agencies
to citizens, social activists are demanding implementation of other
citizen-friendly laws. In addition to the efficient working of the Lokayukta,
activists have asked for stringent implementation of an act that will give
citizens the right to public grievance redressal, as well as the Whistleblowers
Protection Act.
“The Right to
Information (RTI) Act empowers citizens with information, but doesn’t address
their grievances. For this, the state government should develop a separate
mechanism. An authority needs to be instituted to ensure timely grievance
redressal for citizens,” said Shailesh Gandhi, former Central information
commissioner.
The
Whistleblowers Protection Act protects those who are often easy targets of
those on the wrong side of the law. Some activists said that strict
implementation of the existing Maharashtra Government Servants Regulation of
Transfers and Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act, 2005
should take precedence over enactment of the Right to Services legislation.
Both propose to ensure timely government services to citizens.
Activists
also expressed disappointment over the workings of the state Lokayukta. “The
number of complaints addressed to the state Lokayukta is dwindling, because
people lack confidence. The body has adequate powers, but they should be used
effectively,” said Gandhi.
“We will
approach both the state and Centre to expedite the implementation of the acts,”
said Bhaskar Prabhu, RTI activist.
Ashish
Shelar, Mumbai BJP chief, said, “The government, under the new CM, will
consider the points raised by activists, in order to run a zero-corruption
government. We will also take the suggestions made by the activists into
consideration.”
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