RTI Act and the business of governance
Right to Information Act is definitely a huge step in the right direction towards empowering the people and instituting some amount of much needed and sorely missed transparency in the way the business of governance is run in this country. No doubt, The RTI Act is a powerful tool in the hands of the citizen but there are some issues which need to be addressed to understand, not only its immediate impact, but also its continued relevance.
The fundamental point is the competence of the citizens in utilizing the potent tool that the RTI Act is supposed to be; and there lies the catch. In this country, although statistically speaking rate of literacy is now inching towards some kind of respectability, functionally speaking, there is a very small, rather infinitesimally minute and insignificant part of the adult population which is educated enough and aware enough to substantially benefit from the theoretical empowerment ushered in by the RTI Act. Out of that small part of our educated and aware adult population which is theoretically competent enough to operate this useful tool, the overwhelming majority suffers from the chronic ailment of apathy combined with lack of will and servile attitude (towards any entity remotely connected with Government). To be brutally honest, the situation is basically grim and depressing and requires intensive as well as extensive modification in the very basic mindset of the people to alter the status. Till then, the RTI Act may not matter much to the man on the dusty street in a poor rural neighborhood; he may continue to remain bereft of all the theoretical benefits showered on him by the Government and may never have the wherewithal to seek the relevant information to know where, and for what reasons things went wrong.
Some kind of awareness drive is underway, mostly in the predominantly urban areas where certain amount of awareness is already present, but to believe that it will be sufficient in galvanizing the people to the extent that may be required to make even a superficial dent will be plain naivety. The need of the hour is all out efforts not only towards making the lay people aware of their rights and the remedies if those rights are infringed upon, but to change their attitude. It is necessary to take out the deep rooted feelings of inferiority and powerlessness and the apologetic attitude which plague the majority of our countrymen. This has to change, and once that happens, the tide will turn with a decisiveness which may make this country which is used to trundling like an elephant, run like a thoroughbred. That is when the RTI Act will become substantially relevant.
But, again there lies the rider; I would not be surprised, if during the intervening period, the Act is blunted to such an extent that it is reduced to just a pale shadow of what was originally conceived. Here, the combined might of the quasi judicial authorities, the judicial authorities and the media will be required in the right dosages at the right time and in the right direction to stem the impending rot.
At the moment, the role of the media is the most important, as, in the initial stage spreading awareness is the key. Moreover due to the pervasive reach of the media and its keen and immediate emotional impact, due primarily because of the nature of its content (especially in the visual media), it will be the single most important factor in showcasing the potential of the RTI Act.
The big question is the duration of the relevant exposure, or to put in other words, the length of the Media’s attention span on the issue. Well, let us all hope that the Media will be responsible enough and sensible enough and will not relegate “The RTI Act” to the background once the initial euphoria is drowned in the imminent cynicism that normally characterizes public debate in this great country comprising of the Argumentative Indians. The Hope is there because even in the most interior rural regions, inhabited by the most unprivileged people, I have been fortunate enough to glance upon a couple of Dish Antennas.
The fundamental point is the competence of the citizens in utilizing the potent tool that the RTI Act is supposed to be; and there lies the catch. In this country, although statistically speaking rate of literacy is now inching towards some kind of respectability, functionally speaking, there is a very small, rather infinitesimally minute and insignificant part of the adult population which is educated enough and aware enough to substantially benefit from the theoretical empowerment ushered in by the RTI Act. Out of that small part of our educated and aware adult population which is theoretically competent enough to operate this useful tool, the overwhelming majority suffers from the chronic ailment of apathy combined with lack of will and servile attitude (towards any entity remotely connected with Government). To be brutally honest, the situation is basically grim and depressing and requires intensive as well as extensive modification in the very basic mindset of the people to alter the status. Till then, the RTI Act may not matter much to the man on the dusty street in a poor rural neighborhood; he may continue to remain bereft of all the theoretical benefits showered on him by the Government and may never have the wherewithal to seek the relevant information to know where, and for what reasons things went wrong.
Some kind of awareness drive is underway, mostly in the predominantly urban areas where certain amount of awareness is already present, but to believe that it will be sufficient in galvanizing the people to the extent that may be required to make even a superficial dent will be plain naivety. The need of the hour is all out efforts not only towards making the lay people aware of their rights and the remedies if those rights are infringed upon, but to change their attitude. It is necessary to take out the deep rooted feelings of inferiority and powerlessness and the apologetic attitude which plague the majority of our countrymen. This has to change, and once that happens, the tide will turn with a decisiveness which may make this country which is used to trundling like an elephant, run like a thoroughbred. That is when the RTI Act will become substantially relevant.
But, again there lies the rider; I would not be surprised, if during the intervening period, the Act is blunted to such an extent that it is reduced to just a pale shadow of what was originally conceived. Here, the combined might of the quasi judicial authorities, the judicial authorities and the media will be required in the right dosages at the right time and in the right direction to stem the impending rot.
At the moment, the role of the media is the most important, as, in the initial stage spreading awareness is the key. Moreover due to the pervasive reach of the media and its keen and immediate emotional impact, due primarily because of the nature of its content (especially in the visual media), it will be the single most important factor in showcasing the potential of the RTI Act.
The big question is the duration of the relevant exposure, or to put in other words, the length of the Media’s attention span on the issue. Well, let us all hope that the Media will be responsible enough and sensible enough and will not relegate “The RTI Act” to the background once the initial euphoria is drowned in the imminent cynicism that normally characterizes public debate in this great country comprising of the Argumentative Indians. The Hope is there because even in the most interior rural regions, inhabited by the most unprivileged people, I have been fortunate enough to glance upon a couple of Dish Antennas.
posted by Better Tomorrow For India @ 12:26 AM
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