BRINGING GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE GOVERNMENT
Right to Information Act is fast emerging as an effective anti-corruption tool
September 28 is celebrated internationally as Right to Know Day. After a nationwide campaign led by grassroots and civil society organizations, the government here passed the landmark Right to Information Act (RTI) back in 2005. The Act is now internationally recognized as a strong and effective law, and a model for other countries. Social activists and ordinary citizens have effectively used the Act to tackle corruption and bring greater transparency and accountability in the government; for many, particularly India's poor and disadvantaged, the simple act of filing an application is empowering, and often leads to tangible results. The law is frequently used to redress individual grievances, access entitlements such as ration cards and pensions, investigate government policies and decisions, and expose corruption and misuse of government resources. A 2009 study estimates that in the first three years alone, close to two million RTI requests were filed across the country. Last year we helped support the opening of advocacy and legal advice centers in the state of Bihar to facilitate the efficient delivery of services and redress citizen grievances; more than 250 RTI requests were filed by citizens seeking improvements in government services.
— MANDAKINI DEVASHER SURIE
Program Officer, New Delhi