Mumbai: While speaking at a recent workshop on Right to Information, RTI activist said that the recent attempt to belittle former Prime Minister by naming his biopic The Accidental Prime Minister are not in good taste, for it was Dr. Manmohan Singh who gave the nation the RTI act.
The act that empowered common citizens to question government employees right from grass root workers to the Prime Minister. Ghatkopar Pragati Manch, a WhatsApp group from Ghatkopar had organised a workshop on RTI at the conference hall of Kranti Krida Mach at Ghatkopar West Bhatwadi. As part of these initiatives, to spread the awareness of RTI and to encourage the citizens to utilise the same to solve their problems a workshop under the guidance of Anil Galgali was conducted.
Anil Galgali lamented that in a nation of 125 crores, only about 10 lac people have utilised their RTI. He elaborated by providing information about where and how the RTI can be used to seek details from the Central Government State Government and Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
How the information related to the allotment of a priced land parcel to noted film actress and member of parliament Hema Malini was unraveled using the RTI and how the Chief Minister then went on to cancel the related 1983 government decision is an example of victory of the RTI. Siphoning of funds collected from consumers by Reliance Power to the tune of Rs 2,640 crores was also revealed after use of RTI, many such examples were given by Anil Galgali.
Participants in the workshop had many questions related to the delays in implementation of the Slum Rehabilitation scheme. Information regarding how to use RTI for getting information on about work done by elected representatives, questions related to public toilet facilities and also the use of right to time bound reply from public offices was shared with participants.
he event was attended by group members and member from L ward of Mumbai municipal corporation Kiran Landge.
Landge appreciated the work done by the group on various fronts. Prashant Badhe gave an account of various initiatives undertaken by the group. Group member Digambar Gurav felicitated Anil Galgali, while Ajot Tambe felicitated Kiran Landge. Viram Kasbe proposed the vote of thanks while the program was compered by Sangita Varpe. All members of the WhatsApp group had taken tremendous efforts to ensure success of the programme.