RTI a tool in hands of aam-admi to fight red-tapism

To own a house was the dream of 70-year-old rickshaw puller Mazloom Nadaf which he nurtured throughout his life.

For once, he felt his wish will be realised when he was given Rs 25,000 for a house under Indira Awaas Yozna but little did he know that getting the money from Block Development Officer would be a tough task.

Nadaf, hailing from Madhubani district in Bihar, claims that he was asked to pay a bribe of Rs 5,000 to get the due amount under the scheme.

Four years ago, the Right to Information Act came into being and Nadaf utilised it to the fullest, an NGO that helps educate people on the RTI Act said.

Not only did he get the substantial amount without paying any bribe within 10 days of filing an application, but he also became one of the first persons from Bihar to reap the benefits of the Act.

Later, the remaining portion was also sent to him with which he managed to fulfil his dream of buying a house.

On the eve of the Act completing four years, many a common man like him find themselves empowered.

"Nadaf was the first RTI applicant from Bihar and today many have followed his footsteps. Most of the time you will find Nadaf transporting people who have problems, in his rickshaw. He carries them to some RTI activist," said Ashok Kumar Singh, a member of the NGO.

Manish Sisodiya, an RTI activist in Delhi said, "This is the power of RTI - even an ordinary rickshawala becomes as powerful as the member of Parliament."

In another case, villagers filed different RTI applications and have successfully brought eight villages under the count of the Census.

"Bhawanipur, Bichiya, Naibarti Tadiya, Kailash Nagar Dhakia, Dilshad Nagar, Gokulpur, Mehboobnagar and Kautarniya Ghat were never under the count of the Census. All development work was denied with the excuse that it was not in the map. People were devoid of school, clean drinking water, toilet and all development schemes of the government," Sisodia said.

"People living in this area were considered encroacher of land by the government. We had bright students in this area who got selected in Shastastra Seema Bal but were denied jobs as they did not have a residence proof. They could vote but they did not have a voter I-card," he said.

Finally, these eight villages are recognised and all come under the count of the Census, he said.

"It's a very difficult question. The point here is that it has started having an impact. So to say that it has delivered is going a little far. What I can say that it has started making a major impact on government's functioning," Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said when asked whether the Act has delivered on the expectations of the common man.