Do you know how Right to Information act came into being? It all started from a small incidence at a small town in rajasthan named Bheem. In early 90s when rajasthan was facing a severe draught govt launched various draught relief schemes. One of them was providing employment to poor people of rural Rajasthan . In which certain rain water harvesting schemes and rural road development schemes were started .
Like any other scheme this scheme was also completed successfully on papers . But the reality was something different , not a single penny was invested at the actual site. Seeing this some of the local politicians and villagers protested and demanded the muster rolls to verify that who all worked an what was the actual result. They went from office to office but in vain !
The concerned officers refused to provide the relevant documents, say it was an official document and couldn't released to public as they termed it as confidential and can't be handed over to citizens.
The citizens of Bheem did not gave up they took shelter of the judiciary.
As the writ was filed at High court ,the court took matter into consideration and ordered investigation into the matter and it was ruled that the actual muster rolls be provided to the public , to improve the transparency in govt works as the money involved and the work done was concerned with public directly.
Later it became a national movement and supreme court ordered the govt to draft a bill to improve the transparency in public affairs. That's how a small movement in a village spread all over India. This shows the power of democracy and bargaining for one's rights.
Like any other scheme this scheme was also completed successfully on papers . But the reality was something different , not a single penny was invested at the actual site. Seeing this some of the local politicians and villagers protested and demanded the muster rolls to verify that who all worked an what was the actual result. They went from office to office but in vain !
The concerned officers refused to provide the relevant documents, say it was an official document and couldn't released to public as they termed it as confidential and can't be handed over to citizens.
The citizens of Bheem did not gave up they took shelter of the judiciary.
As the writ was filed at High court ,the court took matter into consideration and ordered investigation into the matter and it was ruled that the actual muster rolls be provided to the public , to improve the transparency in govt works as the money involved and the work done was concerned with public directly.
Later it became a national movement and supreme court ordered the govt to draft a bill to improve the transparency in public affairs. That's how a small movement in a village spread all over India. This shows the power of democracy and bargaining for one's rights.
