A guide to RTI: Suchana Ka Adhikar (Hindi)

By AG Khan, The Milli Gazette

Published Online: Jan 30, 2011

Print Issue: 1-15 January 2011

Book: Suchana Ka Adhikar (Hindi)
Author: Afroz Alam “Sahil”
Publisher: Jama’at-e-Islami Hind (community & social wing), Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, India
Year: 2010
Price:  Rs 30
Pages: 142

“Nannu got his ration card without giving bribe”
“Dr Irshad Ahmad Khan got his driving license without bribing anyone”
“Rama Bai got her income certificate in 10 days that too without spending anything as bribe”
“Uday compelled PWD to rebuild the road opposite IIT (Delhi)”

These are some of the success stories that “Right to Information” enabled people to accomplish. RTI has become a powerful tool against corruption and exploitation. It has compelled not only the officers to work within a time frame but it even compelled the union cabinet to accept amendments which it was reluctant to incorporate.

This small booklet answers all the frequently asked questions – what, when, where to seek the relevant information from government machinery and also guides people what possible steps can be taken if an officer refuses to comply with request.

Afroz Alam “Sahil,” a jouirnalist by profession, has provided all the necessary background, procedure and possible outcome of such timely efforts to ensure justice. Three mentors – Aruna Roy, the Magssasay Award winner, Dr Sandeep Pandey Magssasay Award winner and Arvind Kejriwal also Magssasay Award winner guided “Sahil and encouraged him.

Let the readers of MG be reminded that the post-mortem reports in Batla House encounter could be obtained by exercising this Right to Information and the rest is history. It is a book which every alert and concerned citizen should have as a ready reference. The Jamaat, by undertaking this venture, has served a deeni obligation.