INFORMATION GAP
THE WEEK|June 07, 2020
Experts are worried that citizens’ right to information has not been upheld during the lockdown
SONI MISHRA
INFORMATION GAP

ON THE MORNING of April 24, activist Raghvendra Dubey received a WhatsApp message that left him pleasantly surprised. It was the Rewa district food controller’s reply to his application under the Right to Information Act; he had wanted to know how many people in Rewa’s Kot village had received free ration under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

Dubey was surprised not only because he got his response through WhatsApp, but also because he had submitted the RTI application just the previous night. It was probably a first for the instant messaging service to be used to respond to RTI queries.

Mentioning this incident, Madhya Pradesh Information Commissioner Rahul Singh said the alacrity displayed by the food controller was perhaps because he had been previously penalised by the commission for not giving information related to distribution of ration. “This episode showed the importance of RTI in times like the Covid-19 pandemic, when information, especially that which pertains to life and liberty of the individual, has to be provided,” Singh said.

The information commissioner put out a message on Twitter, urging people who had any complaints about distribution of food grain to file RTI applications under Section 7(1) of the Act, under which information has to be provided by the relevant authority within 48 hours. He said that transparency was essential during the lockdown.

The Rewa incident made clear the importance of RTI for holding the state agencies accountable for the measures taken to deal with Covid-19. However, the virus has had a debilitating effect on the transparency framework put in place under the 2005 law, especially affecting the functioning of a majority of the state commissions.

この記事は THE WEEK の June 07, 2020 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は THE WEEK の June 07, 2020 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE WEEKのその他の記事すべて表示
Doctors' Wish-List
THE WEEK India

Doctors' Wish-List

The first wish is a no-brainer-safety, considering the number of attacks on doctors. But there is more. Such as upskilling. THE WEEK brings you what's on the mind of your doctor

time-read
10 分  |
December 15, 2024
Only India Can Question Adani
THE WEEK India

Only India Can Question Adani

INTERVIEW - ERIK SOLHEIM, former executive director, UN Environment Programme

time-read
3 分  |
December 15, 2024
Stay with Kochi Biennale
THE WEEK India

Stay with Kochi Biennale

The organisers of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale have just begun preparations for its sixth edition a year from now. I still remember its start, on the euphonious date of 12.12.12-December 12, 2012-when a group of idealist artists embarked with some trepidation on a bold attempt to transform India's art scene.

time-read
3 分  |
December 15, 2024
Formula won
THE WEEK India

Formula won

With Senna, Netflix seems to have finally found its footing in sports programming

time-read
3 分  |
December 15, 2024
The horror of not ageing
THE WEEK India

The horror of not ageing

Every morning, I look in the mirror and begin E to pullfaces I strew up to pull faces at myself. I screw up my mouth like a mouse about 10 times.

time-read
2 分  |
December 15, 2024
At the centre of Life of Pi is the story of a boy looking for the truth
THE WEEK India

At the centre of Life of Pi is the story of a boy looking for the truth

INTERVIEW - Lolita Chakrabarti, playwright

time-read
4 分  |
December 15, 2024
THE ROCKSTAR ROMEO
THE WEEK India

THE ROCKSTAR ROMEO

Bryan Adams can't stop this thing he started

time-read
4 分  |
December 15, 2024
TECH UP THE CHALLENGE
THE WEEK India

TECH UP THE CHALLENGE

Precision technology is revolutionising cancer care

time-read
5 分  |
December 15, 2024
TECHNOLOGY FOR GOOD
THE WEEK India

TECHNOLOGY FOR GOOD

There is a pressing need to marry digital innovation with a deeply human context

time-read
3 分  |
December 15, 2024
FRIENDS IN LAB COATS
THE WEEK India

FRIENDS IN LAB COATS

They have many things in common, like being driven individuals, patient-centric doctors and excellent communicators. THE WEEK used their time together at the Cleveland Clinic as a thread to chat with Dr Jame Abraham and Dr Madhu Sasidhar

time-read
5 分  |
December 15, 2024