People's verdict: No change in RTI

New Delhi: If votes are means to validate one's argument, then Right to Information activists have reason to feel vindicated.
Counting the votes of a nationwide referendum on the proposed amendment to the RTI act, volunteers have recieved an overwhelming 26,000 votes in the first round itself.
Spanning Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP and Delhi, 25,466 votes were cast opposing the amendments. The figure now stands at 26,000 and still counting.
The activists, who plan to share the results with the lawmakers, say they will march to Parliament. They are going to tell the goverment that the amendment to the act was made without their consent.

One of the showpiece legislation of the UPA government, the RTI, has run into rough weather and the chances of the amendment bill coming up in this session of parliament seems highly unlikely. But the government insists all is well with the Bill.
"Since the passage of the Bill, which will go from the Lok Sabha to the Rajya Sabha, may or may not find a place in the slot for other Bills. I cannot predict it," says Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.
But RTI activist and ex-National Advisory Council member Aruna Roy refuses to buy the government's argument.
"If we are all going to work collectively in the interest of the country and for the country, then there are obligations for all of us to listen to the voice of common sense," says Roy.
Good intentions are often washed away by politcs. That seems to be the fate of this Bill as well.
The Manmohan versus Sonia camp difference of opinion has sealed the destiny of this bill at least in this session.

 

[gaurav200x]

Sonia stays move to erase notings


Govt Relents On RTI After Activists Turn On Heat


New Delhi: The invisible hand that pulls the levers of government has moved once again, preventing a proposed amendment to the Right to Information Act to keep file notings out of public domain and emasculating the core transparency that was intended.

Under pressure from activists and NGOs who had crowded the National Advisory Council when she was its chair, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi directed the government to drop the move to amend the RTI Act to enable the bureaucracy to protect confidentiality of notings on files.

As reported prominently in The Times of India, the attempt to dilute the Act angered activists across the country and even the Administrative Reforms Commission opposed keeping file notings out of the public eye unless there were serious issues of national security involved. The BJP and the Left had also warned against tampering with the Act, saying they would block any attempt to pass the Bill in Parliament.

Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Suresh Pachauri confirmed on Saturday that the proposed Bill to amend the Act would not be introduced during the remaining week of Parliament’s monsoon session.

He left no doubts that the Congress chief ’s intervention had made the government change its mind. Earlier this week, the government was actively considering a Bill to carry out the amendment. In fact, parliamentary affairs minister P R Dasmunsi said on Friday that there was a possibility of the Bill being introduced in the Rajya Sabha.

‘‘We would have been happier if the government had completely withdrawn the amendments,’’ said social activist Aruna Roy. Welcoming the move though, she described it as a victory for the Indian people.

With Sonia putting her foot down, minister of state in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan rushed to Maharashtra and managed to persuade social activist Anna Hazare to give up his fast-unto-death over the government move.

While activists greeted the news with jubilation, there was considerable unease in the higher echelons of bureaucracy. ‘‘No official would like to take unpleasant decisions knowing that his notings are being preserved for public view for posterity,’’ said a senior bureaucrat.

The government had offered visibility of file notings on social and developmental issues while wanting to pull a curtain over notings on more sensitive matters. However, with activists crying foul and Sonia taking up cudgels on their behalf, the government beat a hasty retreat.

NO SECRETS

Confidential notings to stay in public domain

Unease in higher echelons of bureaucracy, some say this will come in the way of taking unpleasant decisions

Activists celebrate; Anna Hazare calls off fast

Even Administrative Reforms Commission had opposed move unless security was involved ANNA HAZARE ENDS FAST

 

[kartik]

Some months down the line. all this hoo-hum will cool down and these b@$tarDz will silently pass the bill.

Yeh hai Indian meri jaan.

 

[gaurav200x]

Some months down the line. all this hoo-hum will cool down and these b@$tarDz will silently pass the bill.

Yeh hai Indian meri jaan.

very true man! no wonder they said that they won't pass it 'this session'... So it is clearly indicating that they can pass it later on when the agitation dies. But i sincerely hope that people like Mr. Hazare dont give up.