Usages of RTI in Rural Rajasthan, India - Consumer Unity & Trust ...

Chapter 3Growth Process and SalientFeatures of Indian RTI Act, 2005In a democracy, people are the masters and government exists to serve them. Peoplehave a right to know how they are being governed, because the government runs onthe money paid by people in the form of taxes. People have a right to know how theirmoney is being utilised so as to intensifythe process of paradigm shift from statecentricto citizen-centric model ofdevelopment, with a transparent and anaccountable regime. The RTI movementin India came into existence in 1990s byresolving a major contradiction betweenthe colonial acts, which prevented accessto information and the post-independentIndian Constitution, which recognisedseeking of information as a fundamentalright to promote transparent,accountable, responsible, participatoryand decentralised democracy.As a result of thegrassroots movement forthe RTI to combatcorruption and promotegood governance, thestate responded in theform of the RTI Act, 2005As a result of the grassroots movement for the RTI tocombat corruption and promote good governance, thestate responded in the form of the RTI Act, 2005. Withthe introduction of the RTI Act, 2005, the colonial acts,such as the Official Secrets Act, Indian Evidence Actand the Civil Service Code of Conduct Rules, whichcontain provisions that restrict the Fundamental RTI,as ensured to the citizens in the Constitution, havebecome irrelevant.Model Framework for Replication: Usages of RTI in Rural Rajasthan, India 9