12.07.2015 Views

From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

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FROM POVERTY TO POWERI SURF, THEREFORE I AMKnowledge is power.FRANCIS BACONFor two decades the people of Sunder Nagri, a slum on the northeasternedge of the Indian capital, Delhi, had <strong>to</strong> make do withoutsewers, as local officials kept promising <strong>to</strong> clean things up. In 2005,making use of the country’s new Right <strong>to</strong> Information law, localbusinessman Noshe Ali was able <strong>to</strong> discover what everyone in SunderNagri had already guessed – that there were no plans <strong>to</strong> dig any sewers.Armed with that knowledge, Ali convinced the city’s chief minister <strong>to</strong>authorise a budget. Work started within a year.Not long after, a local woman followed Ali’s example. Asked <strong>to</strong>hand over 800 rupees ($20) for birth certificates for her two daughters,she refused, and instead used the Right <strong>to</strong> Information law <strong>to</strong> find outwhat was delaying her application, and which official was responsible.Rather than face public shaming, the local government quickly gaveher the birth certificates. 53ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATIONAccess <strong>to</strong> information is no abstract debate; it is an essential <strong>to</strong>ol ofcitizenship. Knowledge expands horizons, allows people <strong>to</strong> makeinformed choices, and strengthens their ability <strong>to</strong> demand their rights.Ensuring access <strong>to</strong> knowledge and information is integral <strong>to</strong> enabling52

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