The Right To
Information (RTI) Act has been harnessed as a tool for promoting
participatory development, strengthening democratic governance and
facilitating the effective delivery of socio-economic services. The
right to know has empowered people to be acquainted with the internal
operations of a government organisation and to be conscious of their
entitlements. In the last three years of the RTI regime, there has been
extensive use of the Act by citizens, of which at least one-third are
the rural poor.
They have sought to know the reasons why the socio-economic services
meant for them are not reaching them. On the basis of information, thus
acquired, they are getting themselves involved in the designing and
implementation of poverty alleviation programmes. The benefits they
have reaped, based on recent case studies, are briefly recounted.
Till recently, the benefits of income and food security, provided by
the government, seldom reached the poor primarily owing to inefficiency
and corruption. But, under the RTI regime, an empowered citizen is able
to observe and scrutinise the public activities.
Raised income
This has resulted in effective delivery of services. For instance,
under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), the
opportunity for work on demand for at least 100 days in a year is
provided to secure the livelihood of the rural poor. The annual income
of a rural job cardholder has thus risen by Rs 6,000 (100 days x Rs 60
per day wages), which is in addition to other income.
The people have sought to know the details of schemes and their
relevance to the rural community, utilisation of funds, and payment of
wages to the targeted beneficiaries. The disclosure of such data as
muster rolls has helped in containing corruption. The benefits have
reached the target groups and officials responsible for holding up
programmes identified.
The development of the rural infrastructure will enhance the
productivity of various activities and increase the opportunities for
employment and income. The provision of mid-day meals to school
children is an important measure of food security, which not only helps
in reducing the nutritional deficiency among the poor children but also
enhances their learning attainments. The stakeholders are able to
observe and monitor the service delivery system.
One major component of the Integrated Child Development Scheme is to
provide nutritional support to children from poor families. The use of
the RTI Act by the target groups, including the NGOs, has ensured
effective implementation of this scheme. To provide income and
security, financial assistance to families “with low means of
subsistence” is provided to all above the age of 60. The grant of
pension has been “universalised”. The destitute are entitled to 10 kg
of foodgrain per month free of cost. The affected persons have sought
information under the RTI Act and its provisions relating to life and
liberty. And, thus, the benefits have been assured to them by the
government.
Essential services are made available to the poor at subsidised rates.
Such items as foodgrain, kerosene, sugar etc, are provided to the poor.
Besides, subsidy is provided for housing, education and health
services. The implementation of schemes like the public distribution
system was till recently adversely affected by indifferent governance
at all levels of execution. This resulted in leakages and diversion of
products to those above the poverty line.
The beneficiaries are using the RTI Act to seek such details as the
stock of supplies and distribution, rate lists, list of beneficiaries ~
the disclosure of which ensures the weeding out of fictitious names. It
has thus been possible to curb corruption and plug loopholes in the
PDS, which, in effect, has improved the delivery of services.
Housing is recognised as a human right. Under the Indira Awaas Yojna,
financial support is provided to the rural poor for construction of
houses as per their choice of design and requirement. The identified
beneficiaries are able to create the demand for the release of funds
for construction of houses.
Education and health care are critical services for the empowerment of
the people. Invocation of the RTI Act has improved the quality and
extent of services under various flagship programmes.
First, the government has committed itself to provide the minimum
school infrastructure for universalisation of elementary education,
under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. The citizens have raised issues pertaining
to management of the schools, mainly the availability of infrastructure
support, teachers’ attendance, students’ enrolment and performance,
implementation of the mid-day scheme, utilisation of funds, including
distribution of financial support and scholarships to the children of
deprived groups. There are signs of improvement in the performance of
schools since the authorities are required to provide explanations in
respect of activities that run counter to official policy and people’s
expectations.
Second, healthcare services have also been adversely affected owing to
the lack of accountability. The citizens have sought details of primary
health services. The disclosure of the stock of medicines and
distribution, attendance of medical staff and the number of patients
treated has resulted in better management of primary health centres.
The insurance scheme and family benefit scheme have also been
effectively implemented.
People’s involvement
An informed citizenry is thus participating in the implementation of
such flagship programmes as Bharat Nirman, which seeks to provide the
critical infrastructure in the form of rural roads, electricity, water
and sanitation. The partnership between the citizen and the government
will help create a sound infrastructure to create conditions for the
alleviation of poverty.
The RTI Act has had a significant bearing on good governance. In order
to optimise the benefits of the RTI regime, the access to information
ought to be streamlined.. The capacities of both the public authorities
and the citizens may have to be enhanced, especially in the rural areas.
Second, the awareness level among the poor is less than 10 per cent.
This is a major impediment towards reaping the benefits of the RTI Act
if one of its objectives is to ensure the entitlements to the poor.
Finally, all the poverty alleviation programmes should be transparent.
This will ensure accountability, which is critical for ensuring equity
and justice in the delivery of essential services.
The writer is Central Information Commissioner, New Delhi
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