RIGHT TO INFORMATION - 2009 - Indian Social Institute

NEW DELHI: They spoke from the same platform, assured of action by their respective party, and yet
when it came to listing the exact plan of action, they chose to remain non-committal. At a day-long public
meeting here on Saturday, politicians cutting across party lines agreed that there is a need to strengthen
the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Right to Information (RTI) Act, but
refrained from going into specifics. Representatives of the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the
Communist Party of India and the Janata Dal (Secular) were speaking at the event organised jointly by
People’s Action for Employment Guarantee and National Campaign for People’s Right to Information to
hold politicians accountable to the Right to Work and Right to Information in their election agendas. The
party representatives were unanimous in agreeing that the number of work days guaranteed under the
NREGA be increased from the present 100 days per household per year and that corporates too be
brought under the purview of the RTI to ensure that deceptions like the recent Satyam scam are brought
to light. Congress representative Sudarsana Nachiappan said anyone from his party who opposes the
NREGA stands to oppose the Congress itself. Expressing confidence that his party will return to power,
Mr. Nachiappan said “efforts will be made to take forward the employment guarantee scheme”. When
confronted by activists that a Congress MP in Jharkhand had opposed social audit and prevented them
from taking stock of the situation, Mr. Nachiappan sought more details and said the matter would be
reported to the authorities concerned. He declined to comment on whether the party would hold the MP
back from contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Danish Ali of Janata Dal (S) said the party
supports the demand for an increased duration of minimum work days under the NREGA. He regretted
that the concept of contractors still exists in the rural set-up. He also called for more transparency in the
process of appointing information commissioners of States and said the nation’s progress is linked to the
empowerment of the rural population. BJP’s Prakash Javadekar said the judiciary too should be made
answerable to the public and should have no reservations about declaring their assets. He too called for
making the corporates more accountable under the RTI and referring to the recent suicide bid by a family
in Delhi said urban poverty is a reality that needs a more holistic approach. CPI secretary D. Raja said the
party’s manifesto included the demands put forth at the Jan Manch and that his party wants education,
health care, housing and employment to be made fundamental rights. Hundreds of people attended the
event demanding changes in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Right to Information
Act.They also demanded constitution of a national council for RTI to monitor its implementation, selection
of information commissioners in a transparent manner and ensuring transparency in the private sector.
(The Hindu 22/3/09)
Information Commissioners and CIC not to accept RTI awards (1)
New Delhi (PTI): The Chief Information Commissioner and the other commissioners at the CIC have
decided not to accept RTI awards, instituted by different NGOs and civil society groups, in reference to
their work. The decision was taken during an internal meeting of the Commission, which was chaired by
Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and attended by all the Information Commissioners.
"Commission opined that institution of RTI award by some NGO/Civil Society is welcome, but the Chief
Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners agreed that they will not accept any awards in
reference to their work as ICs," minutes of the meeting suggest. Several NGOs working towards
implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005 have established awards, which were also conferred
to some of the Information Commissioners. Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi had raised the
matter through an email to Wajahat Habibullah, where he had asked him whether such awards, in
reference to their work as information commissioners, can be accepted by them. (The Hindu 25/3/09)
Two govt officials fined under RTI Act (1)
PATNA: The State Information Commission (SIC) on Wednesday imposed fine on two government
officials for violation of Right to Information (RTI) Act. Those found on the wrong side of the Act are an
executive engineer of electricity supply division in Saharsa district and secretary of Vishunpur Panchayat
in Madhubani district. Both these officials failed to respond to the applications filed seeking information
under RTI Act. In both these cases, the SIC imposed a fine at the rate of Rs 250 per day with upper limit
of fine being Rs 25,000. The SIC also directed the erring officials to provide information to the applicants
by May 11 and fixed May 18 as the next date of hearing of the cases. (Times of India 26/3/09)
DGP asks his staff not to visit houses of RTI applicants (1)