The news about the initiative taken by the State government to conduct a preparatory workshop on the Right to Information Act is most welcomed. One hopes the local media in the State would also do its part by creating awareness on this very important piece of legislation and educate the public about the different facets involved so that the Act would prove beneficial for the citizens. While the one day workshop in partnership with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative is mainly to prepare the administrative heads, heads of departments and other public authorities to enable them to meet their obligations under the newly enacted Act, similar workshop should also be conducted for the public. Concerned NGOs or academic forums should take the lead in this regard. When citizens are properly enlightened about the legislation only then will they realize the immense utility envisaged in the Act.
It may be mentioned that the Right to Information Act was recently passed in Parliament on June 15. Within 120 days of its enactment, the Act will be fully operational. Both the Central and the State government except the State of Jammu & Kashmir are bound by the Act. The Act makes it mandatory on the part of the government to provide information if asked by citizens. Except the information which has been exempted by the Act, all other information has to be provided to the citizens when they ask for it.
More importantly, the chief objective of the Act is to bring about transparency and accountability in the administration by transforming the people themselves as watchdogs of the administration. If and when, the Act is properly implemented, it will put transparency and accountability into our governing system while making our administration more effective and at the same time responsive.
It is hoped that Act would lead to openness, accountability and integrity, bringing transparency in administration and public life. The barrier to information is the single most cause responsible for corruption in society. It facilitates clandestine deals, arbitrary decisions, manipulations and embezzlements. Transparency in dealings, with their every detail exposed to the public view, should go a long way in curtailing corruption in public life.
Some of the success stories in States where the Act already operates are indeed heartening. It is no secret that it is rarely possible to get any work done in any government office without paying bribes or being made to run around.
But now one would have an option without the need of paying or doing a favor to somebody 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.
There gave been stories about people getting new electricity connections, faulty meters replaced, wrong bills rectified. The Act has done wonders in other States. 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.
Information is indispensable for the functioning of a true democracy. Open Government is the new democratic culture of an open society towards which other States are moving and Nagaland should be no exception.
