People usually ask me as to how they can use the Right to Information (RTI) as a complaint resolving weapon! I refrain from using the term 'weapon' as weapons are used in wars and display violence. We are not fighting against anyone. We are not showing violence. We just want a tool - that is something which makes our work easier. We use the RTI as a tool.
Coming to the main issue of using RTI as Complaint Resolving Mechanism (tool). The RTI Act was enacted to put in public domain the information which government departments usually do not share with the public, which in turn gives birth to increased corruption.
I will try to answer, through example, how RTI helps in resolving complaints even though it has not been designed to do so.
One can use RTI in many other circumstances in similar manner and get their complaints resolved. Though this is not a suggested approach for activists who want to bring the guilty to book but this can be very helpful for common citizens who face difficulty in their day to day work as it is not practical to expect every citizen to be an activist and unearth corruption and get the corrupt punished.
I have been successfully using RTI for helping others and also for getting work done for the society at large. I feel that each citizen should file a few general RTI Application for things not in place in their own neighborhood and this way, we can bring about a lot of change.
Coming to the main issue of using RTI as Complaint Resolving Mechanism (tool). The RTI Act was enacted to put in public domain the information which government departments usually do not share with the public, which in turn gives birth to increased corruption.
I will try to answer, through example, how RTI helps in resolving complaints even though it has not been designed to do so.
The road which was constructed/repaired last year is again in a poor shape. You want it to be repaired immediately. If you file a normal complaint, chances are quite high that your complaint will move from table to table and you will not receive any response or solution. But if you file an RTI and ask a few information, like the amount of money spent on repairs last year, guarantee clause, name of the officials responsible for proper maintenance of the road; chances are quite high that the road will be repaired soon or at least you will get a written assurance that the work will be done soon and then you can follow up. Why this happens? Because one thing is for sure that some compromise was done on quality of the material used in construction of the road last year and that is the reason for its being damaged so soon. Now, no official will admit on paper that there was lapse on his/her part and they will just prefer to do what you want them to - that is get the road repaired.
One can use RTI in many other circumstances in similar manner and get their complaints resolved. Though this is not a suggested approach for activists who want to bring the guilty to book but this can be very helpful for common citizens who face difficulty in their day to day work as it is not practical to expect every citizen to be an activist and unearth corruption and get the corrupt punished.
I have been successfully using RTI for helping others and also for getting work done for the society at large. I feel that each citizen should file a few general RTI Application for things not in place in their own neighborhood and this way, we can bring about a lot of change.
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