Promotion of Right to Information
Generating Awareness on RTI
The aim of Right to Information is to promote transparency and accountability in public authorities. Samarthan has played a yeoman’s role in this regard not only by making people aware about their exercising their right in both rural and urban areas in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
- Kala-Jatha( trained local folk artists disseminating messages in local dialect) programmes were organized in different villages in Rajnandgaon and Bastar districts in Chhattisgarh .
- Puppet shows were used in Satna
- A comic book on RTI was prepared for school students and over 2000 copies were distributed
- A Radio jingle was broadcasted on the radio channel BIG 92.7 FM for 15 days at a stretch in Bhopal, Raisen and Sehore districts
- A live phone in programme was also organised on 31st August on Vividhbharati (All India Radio – Bhopal Station).
- Samarthan has been running an RTI helpline to answer queries related to RTI.
| Right to Information Campaign | ||
| Activities | Madhya Pradesh | Chhattisgarh |
| Panchayats covered by RTI campaign | 839 | 77 |
| Urban wards covered by RTI Campaign | 177 | 61 |
| Orientation to students in schools | 25 | 6 |
CapacityBuilding of Elected Representatives and Frontline Government Officials
Samarthan organised capacity building interventions of elected representatives and government officials. This was because the representatives and officials do not know how to process RTI applications and provide information sought by applicants.
| Right to Information Campaign | ||
| Activities | Madhya Pradesh | Chhattisgarh |
| Trainings to elected representatives | 2847 | 425 |
| Trainings to government officials | 7488 | 39 |
Demonstrating Models of Self Disclosure
Samarthan and partner organizations helped Panchayats to adopt self disclosure as prescribed in the RTI Act whereby Panchayats disclosed Panchayat information to the gram Sabha members. A total of 199 Panchayats in Madhya Pradesh and 69 Panchayats in Chhattisgarh adopted the policy of self disclosure.
Legal Support to NGOs and Applicants
Samarthan engaged with the State Information Commission on a regular basis to update it on the emerging lessons from the field areas. Support was given to the applicants from different districts who had been summoned by the SIC for the hearing on the 2nd appeals by preparing their cases in order and also accompanying them for the hearing. Apart from the meetings with the Information commissioners, Samarthan also organized workshops where the SIC could interact intensively with the CSO partners and the field staff working in different districts.