RTI in Action
Corruption is rampant in India. It is almost impossible to get any work done in any government office without paying bribes. If you do not pay bribe, unnecessary objections would be raised and you would be made to run around.
But now you have an option. You don’t need to pay bribes anymore to get your legitimate work done in any government department. The simple act of demanding to know the status of your grievance petition and the names of the officials who have been sitting on your file does wonders.
For instance, almost 200 people got their individual grievances resolved in Delhi Vidyut Board within a matter of few days of filing applications under RTI Act. Grievances of a number of these people were pending for the past several years for expectations of bribes. People got new electricity connections, faulty meters were replaced, wrong bills were rectified. RTI did wonders for all these people.
Similarly, people could get their work done in many other government departments without paying bribes. Ration cards were made, faulty water bills were rectified, old age pensions were restored and many other works were done as soon as the people filed applications to know the status of their applications and the names of the officials who were sitting on their files.
People have also been making a difference in the quality of works carried out by the government in their area. Absent sweepers turned up for duty when their attendance registers were sought. Incomplete works were completed and quality of works improved when copies of contracts of the works was sought. MLA was forced to release money for a work demanded by the people, when the people obtained details of expenditure made by her out of her MLA Development Fund. A number of ghost works were found when copies of contracts of all the works carried out by the government in an area were obtained.
Right to Information is also redefining the relationships between the people and the governments. Till now, the people had to run around the government officials to get any work sanctioned or to get any work done in their area. Not any more. Right to Information provides such critical information and evidence in the hands of the common man that equipped with this evidence, a person is able to take on the most entrenched vested interests. The officials run for cover and at times almost plead before the applicant.
Construction of a road in Harijan Basti, Mandawali
RTI kicks up some dust in East of Kailash!
Inspection of Outer Ring Road - From after Panchsheel Flyover to Chirag Delhi Flyover
Decide your own destiny
Students application under RTI gets MLA jittery
I asked for details of money spent by NDMC in my area
RTI gets quack pack up
East End Apts get roads, lights
MCD losing huge amounts on sanitation
RTI gets Anshu admission in school
Kapil gets polluting factory shut
RTI gets Sudesh his flat back
People inspect government works for the first time
Absent sweepers report for duty
People get sewers after 20 years through RTI
Fictitious road repairs on paper
Incomplete road completed through RTI
Leaking water pipeline repaired
Kailash Goduka gets street lights repaired
Nannu gets his ration card
Ashok Gupta gets a new electricity connection
People start getting rations
Click here to read various stories of how people used right to information to make a difference in their own lives and their surroundings.
