Dimapur, March 29 (MExN): “The Supreme Court of India has said that India is a democracy where people are the masters. Therefore, the masters have a right to know how the government, meant to serve them, is functioning. Further, every citizen pays taxes. The citizens, therefore, have a right to know how their money was being spent,” wrote Advocate Kezhokhoto Savi, President Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organization (NVCO) in a report on Right to Information (RTI) presented at the two day project partners review meeting of the Indo Global Social Services Society (IGSSS) at Development Association of Nagaland (DAN) Training Centre, Chekiye Village, Dimapur. About 50 members from 30 NGOs from Nagaland and Manipur working for the development of the region through empowerment of the people attended the programme.
During the discussion hour, he explained that RTI means able to get information that is held by the government whose activities affect the public and he further added that the main objective of the Act is to provide a transparent government, accountability in government and insure effective participation of people in administration. He further pointed out the importance of people’s participation in governance, not only in election but in decisions on policies, laws and schemes.
Poor governance, said Savi, ‘is one of the single biggest contributing factors to social, environmental and economic distress’ where misappropriation and lack of accountability for public money keeps the poorest poor and, he added, “if this is the problem, one solution lies with common people reclaiming a share in power and decisions.” While reminding that RTI can be used for a variety of purposes, both personal and to tackle community or state government issues, he said, “it is time we should focus on breaking down old secrecy and develop a mindset and attitude in public officials that is pro-openness.” He also rued at the fact that only about 15% of the allocated fund for any developmental or schemes reach the beneficiaries. He further urged upon the people to use RTI not as a ‘Draconian Law’ but as an instrument for improving government citizen interface resulting in a friendly, caring and effective government functioning for the good of the people.
It may be reminded that Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) is a development support organization for Non-Governmental Voluntary Institutions working for the development of poor and marginalized communities.
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