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

Block level officials, leading NGOs, PRI representatives, the media, the youth, students,RTI applicants and RAIC callers were mobilised by local CGCCs in advance for thesemeetings, which were well attended by 876 (553 in Jaipur and 323 in Tonk) participants,including 211 service providers and 215 women. All the participants were providedwith an RTI Resource Pack containing RTI newsletters, brief of CUTS publications,agenda of the Chaupals and issues to be discussed. These 17 BLRCs were covered in thelocal media on 29 occasions and resulted in raising awareness about corruption andthe use of the RTI Act through the Chaupals and the media.ImportanceParticipants got courage to use RTI as a tool for combating corruption. They also cameto know about the clear picture of corruption in the schemes and use of RTI in theconcerned blocks.ChallengesThe block level officials and PRI representatives were hesitant in fixing the dates forblock Chaupals. Orders to do so from the district level facilitated the process. Acceptanceof the survey findings by service providers was difficult.Tips for ReplicationTo start with, direct meeting with the block level officials to share the agenda andobjectives of these BLRCs is worthwhile. Corrupt local officials should not be namedduring these meetings. The message should focus on the fight against corruption as asystemic malady, not against any individual.Following up of RTI ApplicantsDuring the project period, stakeholders, mostly CGCCs and beneficiaries, were followedup from time to time to know about their target achievements, problems faced, activitiesconducted and their expectations from the project team which helped the project teamto make the plans and activities. CGCCs were also updated about the project activities,targets and outcomes of the project. As a result, the current status of most of the RTIapplications was known.ImportanceRigorous follow up with most of the RTI applicants is very important to know about thecurrent position of the application to suggest/take appropriate further actions andproviding handholding or moral support to applicants, if required.ChallengesIt is difficult to follow up applicants because they themselves break contact withCGCCs due to vastness and remoteness of the interventional area etc. Most of therural applicants do not respond to any letter written to them.Model Framework for Replication: Usages of RTI in Rural Rajasthan, India 21