Refreshing Debate on RTI

Refreshing Debate on RTI​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 2nd May 2018

When laws & associated machinery don’t have any political ‘my-baaps’, their implementation languishes. Right to Information or RTI is just one of the laws. Having said that it is definitely not any other law, for it catapulted several political fortunes even if it may not have benefited the party during whose watch was the bill passed into law. These articles in Management paradise have always maintained that this was at least one clear missed opportunity for the GOP, to not take any credit for the same. This allowed some of the activists which had led the agitation to take credit and catapult their own political careers and therefore the debate is a castigation of such Netas for not being able to take a meaningful stand. For the established political party & Netas, missing the bus has been too costly as they seem to be struggling to recruit any of the activists who could have some effective credibility with public/voters, or some programs to ensure that their existing lot of dumb supporters, should be able to raise their traction with public/voters and prove their worthiness to deal with government machinery.

This is not an isolated case where parties and Netas develop cold feet and would rather not stake any claim for some work done under their watch. Even the Netas in the present government maintain a studied silence on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) that has chance to reform the Banking sector. The reason is not difficult to fathom. The Netas want the laws and Institutions to remain subservient to them, rather than bothering about their efficacy or the rationale/justification for public service on account of the laws and institutions. Taking a stand dilutes this leeway, as any slight deviation from the stated positions might then become a political scoring point for some other Netas. Just as RTI has been allowed to be diluted on account of weakening of the servicing institution and lack of political commitment, the same is happening to IBC as well. It’s just that the stake involved here are rather huge and has to deal with the rich and powerful that keeps the print media glued to such discussions, however this too is often to highjack the agenda rather than for articulating some principled position. RTI of course is a poorer cousin in comparison even if this involves the masses. In fact it is interesting to note that practitioners of ‘different variety of politics’ have rather kept aloof from these ‘affairs’ post coming to power.

Then we also have laws and associated programs that may be high on the priorities or ordinary public which are kept hanging on account of inter-party and Neta tug-of-wars. Reference here is to making amends to the Medical Council of India related bills. This pertains to reforms in the medical education sector and the governance of medical professionals. While the government is pushing for ordinance on bills elated to a cross-section of society like one on Triple-talaq (the article should be treated as any opposition to bill/ordinance), however laws which could have implication for almost the whole society is kept in abeyance. In fact it would be interesting if some of the journos could make study of the ‘pattern of tug-of-war between political rival parties’, to decipher if there is some under=the-table understanding between the Netas/parties shadowboxing as rivals. This is because the Netas of the rival parties would gladly participate in make-believe TV debates that may be dear to any one of them like Mandir or Dalit, however their simply won’t debate the issues like the above. Hope this gets some newbie parties and Netas to get thinking. Let the ‘Game’ evolve….

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

The Right to Information (RTI) Act has long been a cornerstone in promoting transparency and accountability in governance around the world. However, the recent refreshing debate surrounding RTI has brought new perspectives and challenges to the forefront. Advocates of RTI argue that it is an essential tool for citizens to participate in democratic processes, ensuring that governments are held accountable for their actions and decisions. They highlight the Act's role in uncovering corruption, fostering public trust, and enhancing the quality of public services. Critics, on the other hand, raise concerns about the potential abuse of the Act, suggesting that it can be used to harass public officials or to gain access to sensitive information that could compromise national security. This debate is particularly relevant in the digital age, where the volume and accessibility of information have increased exponentially, raising new questions about how RTI laws should be balanced with the need for privacy and security. As governments and civil society continue to grapple with these issues, the conversation around RTI is evolving, leading to a more nuanced understanding of its implications and the need for reforms to ensure it remains a powerful yet responsible instrument of governance.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

Refreshing Debate on RTI​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 2nd May 2018

When laws & associated machinery don’t have any political ‘my-baaps’, their implementation languishes. Right to Information or RTI is just one of the laws. Having said that it is definitely not any other law, for it catapulted several political fortunes even if it may not have benefited the party during whose watch was the bill passed into law. These articles in Management paradise have always maintained that this was at least one clear missed opportunity for the GOP, to not take any credit for the same. This allowed some of the activists which had led the agitation to take credit and catapult their own political careers and therefore the debate is a castigation of such Netas for not being able to take a meaningful stand. For the established political party & Netas, missing the bus has been too costly as they seem to be struggling to recruit any of the activists who could have some effective credibility with public/voters, or some programs to ensure that their existing lot of dumb supporters, should be able to raise their traction with public/voters and prove their worthiness to deal with government machinery.

This is not an isolated case where parties and Netas develop cold feet and would rather not stake any claim for some work done under their watch. Even the Netas in the present government maintain a studied silence on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) that has chance to reform the Banking sector. The reason is not difficult to fathom. The Netas want the laws and Institutions to remain subservient to them, rather than bothering about their efficacy or the rationale/justification for public service on account of the laws and institutions. Taking a stand dilutes this leeway, as any slight deviation from the stated positions might then become a political scoring point for some other Netas. Just as RTI has been allowed to be diluted on account of weakening of the servicing institution and lack of political commitment, the same is happening to IBC as well. It’s just that the stake involved here are rather huge and has to deal with the rich and powerful that keeps the print media glued to such discussions, however this too is often to highjack the agenda rather than for articulating some principled position. RTI of course is a poorer cousin in comparison even if this involves the masses. In fact it is interesting to note that practitioners of ‘different variety of politics’ have rather kept aloof from these ‘affairs’ post coming to power.

Then we also have laws and associated programs that may be high on the priorities or ordinary public which are kept hanging on account of inter-party and Neta tug-of-wars. Reference here is to making amends to the Medical Council of India related bills. This pertains to reforms in the medical education sector and the governance of medical professionals. While the government is pushing for ordinance on bills elated to a cross-section of society like one on Triple-talaq (the article should be treated as any opposition to bill/ordinance), however laws which could have implication for almost the whole society is kept in abeyance. In fact it would be interesting if some of the journos could make study of the ‘pattern of tug-of-war between political rival parties’, to decipher if there is some under=the-table understanding between the Netas/parties shadowboxing as rivals. This is because the Netas of the rival parties would gladly participate in make-believe TV debates that may be dear to any one of them like Mandir or Dalit, however their simply won’t debate the issues like the above. Hope this gets some newbie parties and Netas to get thinking. Let the ‘Game’ evolve….

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[Simran Rai]

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