Talking ’bout a revolution

HT Correspondent, July, 14, 2006: The Hindustan Times Drive Against Bribe has achieved its end. Undertaken in various cities across the country with the help of trained volunteers and self-help groups, the drive was fuelled by enthusiastic public participation. The success showed in the happy faces of the people who benefitted from the use of their Right To Information (RTI). Here are a few instances.
Delhi
When doctors at GB Pant Hospital told Manav Mehra about his mother’s bypass surgery, he deposited Rs 27,000. But she was still not admitted in the hospital. An RTI application under life and liberty, under section 7(1), was drafted and filed on July 2. When Mehra approached the hospital armed with his RTI application, his mother got a bed as well as a date for surgery.
Lucknow
Prashant Gupta, finally got his passport to enable his journey to Australia for higher studies.
An individual was charged Rs 20 per page for photocopy. He complained to the State Information Commission. He was reimbursed the excess charges taken from him.
Elsewhere in UP
Varanasi, with 10 volunteers supervising the camp, topped the list in UP, receiving 2,000 applications till Thursday. Of these, 225 applications were processed.
Brijesh Kumar helped residents of the entire Rasoolpur village under the Jaunpur district get their ration cards by moving the appropriate authority.
In Chitrakoot, the Gram Pradhan of Unnai Bana, Vikas Khand Pahari, Chitrakoot, lodged several complaints against a ration shop owner for siphoning off ration. On July 5 he filed an RTI seeking information on the status of the complaints. An inquiry was conducted on July 8 and the shop owner was suspended.
In Sitapur, Anil Kumar Singh sought information regarding the inquiry report of the committee that was set up to investigate complaints of corruption in development funds used by the Gram Panchayat of Kesri Ganj village. He filed the RTI requisition. Within a few hours, it was revealed that the panchayat had misused the development funds over Rs 1 lakh.
Ahmedabad
Right to information has given hope to the victims of the Gujarat 2002 riots. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayi had announced a relief package of Rs 1,500 crore for the victims. To date these victims haven’t seen even a paisa.
The volunteers at the RTI help centre in Kocharb Ashram are assisting victims to seek information regarding compensation for loss of life and property. A majority of the applicants are women.
Shillong
A taxi driver lost his license about six months back. But the police refused to lodge an FIR. When he came to the RTI assistance centre, the organisers drafted his complaint and called the police station. The police officers were ready to lodge his complaint and discouraged organisers from filing the RTI.
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