Want to pool their strengths to make babus accountable
By G Saravanan
Published on Jan 4:
WITH a view to bringing RTI activists and NGOs under one umbrella, the Chennai-based Right to Information Movement (RIM-Chennai) has planned to form a federation of RTI organisations.
RIM-Chennai founder-president John Lopez told Express that, "The proposed federation would work towards the goal of bringing all RTI organisations in the State together for a common cause pertaining to RTI Act and its implementation."
Besides, a number of RTI activists in the city, including the well-known R Natarajan from R A Puram, there are about 15 RTI organisations here and all of them are working independently for a public cause.
When asked about the need for such a federation when they are proving their mettle even while working individually, Lopez said, "There are several issues in the implementation of RTI Act and the loopholes (in it) cannot be fought individually, and the objective behind forming such a federation would help the organisations to make their voice heard strongly at all levels."
In the last few years, RTI activism in Chennai has grown manifold and the activists as well as these organisations had unearthed several information that were not provided to public even after entitlement to them.
RIM-Chennai is an outcome of continued denial of information from Tamil Nadu Cooperative Union, where we asked some details about a film that was not actually made but on record it was produced, Lopez said.
"According to information we got, the office had produced a film by spending Rs 50 lakh in 1993. When we sought details of the film and expenditure incurred for production, they are using every available method to dodge information under the RTI for the past two years," he added.
Information like discrepancies in daily allowances to Union Cabinet Ministers and details of areas included for evacuation in Meenambakkam airport expansion and how the local people fought it out using information got through RTI in their favour made many people approach the authorities for want of details that were usually kept out of reach of the general public.
Lopez further said that a meeting of RTI organisations has been planned in March. For further details about RIM-Chennai, contact Lopez at 22423809/9444484517.
WITH a view to bringing RTI activists and NGOs under one umbrella, the Chennai-based Right to Information Movement (RIM-Chennai) has planned to form a federation of RTI organisations.
RIM-Chennai founder-president John Lopez told Express that, "The proposed federation would work towards the goal of bringing all RTI organisations in the State together for a common cause pertaining to RTI Act and its implementation."
Besides, a number of RTI activists in the city, including the well-known R Natarajan from R A Puram, there are about 15 RTI organisations here and all of them are working independently for a public cause.
When asked about the need for such a federation when they are proving their mettle even while working individually, Lopez said, "There are several issues in the implementation of RTI Act and the loopholes (in it) cannot be fought individually, and the objective behind forming such a federation would help the organisations to make their voice heard strongly at all levels."
In the last few years, RTI activism in Chennai has grown manifold and the activists as well as these organisations had unearthed several information that were not provided to public even after entitlement to them.
RIM-Chennai is an outcome of continued denial of information from Tamil Nadu Cooperative Union, where we asked some details about a film that was not actually made but on record it was produced, Lopez said.
"According to information we got, the office had produced a film by spending Rs 50 lakh in 1993. When we sought details of the film and expenditure incurred for production, they are using every available method to dodge information under the RTI for the past two years," he added.
Information like discrepancies in daily allowances to Union Cabinet Ministers and details of areas included for evacuation in Meenambakkam airport expansion and how the local people fought it out using information got through RTI in their favour made many people approach the authorities for want of details that were usually kept out of reach of the general public.
Lopez further said that a meeting of RTI organisations has been planned in March. For further details about RIM-Chennai, contact Lopez at 22423809/9444484517.
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Nice to read the contents....i am also at Chennai....having interest on RTI and ve a blog exclusively for RTI.....pl give permission to publish the above message under your name in our blog:http://allindiarti.blogspot.com/
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