THE CONTRIBUTION OF RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005 IN LAST 8 YEARS OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY

BY
Vivek Singh
Faculty of law, ICFAI University, Dehradun ( Rajawala road central hope towen, selaqui 248197)

Email id: lawcurator@gmail.com Mobile no: - +91 9557412331 &

Prabhakar Kumar
Faculty of law, ICFAI University, Dehradun (Rajawala road central hope towen, selaqui 248197)

Email id: kumar.prabhakar55@gmail.com Mobile no: - +91 7895212267

INTRODUCTION The right to information Act has become a very important law that was enacted by the Indian parliament in 2005. The right to information Act is a law enacted by the parliament of India to provide for setting out the practical regime of the right to information for citizen. It has been proved very powerful tool for the common citizen to fight against the corruption and to give a better control upon various government department and agencies. It has also protected citizens fundamental or legal rights. It has been proved to increase transparency and accountability of government towards people. The Colonial Official Secrets Act, was initiated by British was opaque system of governance. This was failure to give total information but through RTI Act where citizens can demand the right to information. NCPRI (National Campaign for Peoples Right to Information) which was founded in 1996 and press council of India formulated an initial draft of a right to information law. Later on this draft was sent to the government of India in 1996. The government finally introduced the freedom of information bill in parliament in 1996. Meanwhile, the NCPRI was also campaigning for state Acts and supporting the effort of the state government Act such like Karnataka, Delhi India has enacted The Freedom of Information Act, 2002. In august 2004, the NCPRI was given a set of suggested amendments to the NAC (National advisory council) The NAC endorsed most of the suggested amendments and recommended. These formed the basis of the subsequent right to information which was introduced on 22 December 2004 in parliament of India. It was passed by parliament on 15 June 2005 and fully enforce on 13 October 2005. PURPOSE OF RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005:In any democratic country where the people has given their safety and security to state. It is indispensible from the government that work as good governance exists from kings rules in India. Democratization of information and knowledge resources is critical for peoples empowerment to realize the entitlements as well as to augment opportunities for enhancing the options for improving quality of life. The strengthening of information regime is therefore sine quo non for promoting democratic governance and right to development. Good governance involves high level efficient and effective administration in a democratic framework. Currently, the term governance and good governance are being increasingly used in

development literature. The term bad governance refers to one of the root causes of all evil within our society. Governance includes the process of decisions are either implement or failure in implement is acknowledged and remedied. The basic premise behind the right to information is that, since government is for the people, of the people and by the people so, it should be open and accountable and should have nothing to conceal from the people it purports to present. Right to information Act has been proved as a part of the fundamental right to free speech and expression. Information is indispensable for the functioning of the true democracy. People have to be kept information about broad issues such like social, political and economic and current affairs. The other objective of the act can be summed up as following:1. Great accountability and transparency in functioning of public authorities. 2. Promote in accountability or performance of the government. 3. Reduction in corruption in the government department. 4. Promotion of partnership between government and citizen in decision making process

RTI IN OTHER COUNTRIES:Right to information exists in many commonwealth countries like Australia, new Zealand, USA and France etc. in Sweden such law was passed in 1810 latter it was replaced by new Act in 1949 which providing the sanctity of being a part of the countrys constitution itself. This provision has provided the right to every Swedish citizen have access to virtually all documents kept by the State or municipal agencies. Similarly In USA, the freedom of speech and expression has been provided after the first amendment of the constitution. The USA had already passed the freedom of information reform Act, 1986 which seeks to amend and extend the previsions of previous legislation on the same subject but this right is not absolute. In Australia, the freedom of information Act has been passed in December 1982. This law has provided to citizen more access to the Federal Governments documents.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT In India due to corruption and other impediments any welfare works not reached to the people .Passing of this Act has been developed to improvement the quality of life, which calls for increasing peoples options for higher earnings, better health care, better education, a clear environment and a richer cultural life. The record of long term performance shows that while there has been steady progress in improvement of the major indicators of development. When public spirited citizens applied this act then government become bound to perform in a transparent and open manner. Following empirical study through various methods collected during the last 8 year.

A) POVERTY ALLEVIATION :RTI empowers citizens to take information decision in all matters affecting them so as to secure justice and equity. So, RTI is as a tool which helps to effective delivery of socio- economic service. GUARANTEE OF FOOD SECURITY: The center and state government have launched a no of scheme from time to time for providing wage employment to the poor but which have hardly reached them due to rampant corruption or ineffective working of performance the adoption of right- based approach is significant to weed- out corruption & to guarantee the reach of entitlement of poor person. But in the absence RTI, It cannot possible. In this context mention may be made of the following scheme: NREGA (NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE ACT): NREGA has been implementing with an object to providing work opportunity to rural poor person at least 100 days in a year. Rural poor person have a right seek to know the details of scheme & its relevance to the rural community, utilization of funds and payment of wages. RTI ensuring the reach of benefits to the forget group and create a official responsibility an effective implementation of programs.

MID- DAY MEALS TO SCHOOL: RTI, all the stakeholders mainly the student, teachers and parent have access to relevant information for the improving effectiveness of scheme. GRANT OF FOOD SECURITY AND PENSION FOR THE POOR SENIOR CITIZEN & INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (ICDS): The use of RTI by the target group or NGO has ensured effective implementation of the scheme to the advantage of the poor person. B) DELIVERY OF SERVICE UNDER SUBSIDIZED SCHEME: The government has launched a no. of scheme which providing essential services like education to poor at low costs. There are following scheme: PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (PDS): RTI seek such details as the stock of suppliers and distribution, rate list, list of beneficiaries these disclosers improving the delivering of services and reduced incidence of poverty also. SHELTER FOR POOR: Under Indira Awash yojana, a financial support is provided to the rural poor for construction of houses. The instrument RTI has helped in operationalization of the scheme which helps to minimize corruption and improve satisfaction level of target group. C) HUMAN CAPITAL: EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE Education and health care are critical services for empowerment of people in general and the poor in particulars.

SARWA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN: According to this scheme government have committed to provide minimum school infrastructure for universalization of elementary education. NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH MISSION: Healthcare services on paper due to lack of accountability of staff. The use of RTI, the citizens have sought to details as stock of medicines

and distribution, procedure for procurement of medicine, attendance of medical staff and no of patient treated etc. AAM ADMI INSURANCE SCHEME: Under this scheme the government provides financial support to the specific groups of the poor families whenever there is perceived laxity or delay in extending the benefits to the beneficiaries, the tool of RTI, the citizen sought to details the reason for delay or denial of assistance to the poor. D) EMPOWER THE WEAKER SECTION:RTI empower the vulnerable section of the society, to have sought to details about relevant components which assure the reach of beneficiaries.

CONCLUSION: RTI has enabled people to participate in the process of development, which has resulted in reduction of corruption and provide good governance system in India. Study shows RTI has protected and promoted the socio-economic interests of every citizen. It has ensured the various scheme like (NREGA, mid-day meals etc.) by which the poor section of people get their rights, human capital and for which this and creates an official responsibility an effective implementation of such scheme. It helps to access to relevant information. This way the right to information act, 2005 has played a good role in last eight years.

REFERENCE:-

Statutes: A. Right to information Act 6, 12 (2005) Newspaper articles: A. RTI reducing corruption by 15%, TNN, Apr. 8, 2008 Journal articles:

A. M.M ANSARI, right to information and its relationship to good governance and development, central information commissioner, new Delhi B. MR. SUBHRAJYOTI KUNDU, democratic need of right to information Act in India, winter issue, global media journal (2010) C. P. CHITRA AND DR. M. NEELAMALAR, right to information Act- a tool for good governance and social change through information technology,4 Ijser (2013) From internet: A. Mandakini Devasher , RTI law: the long road ahead, INDIA TOGETHER (Nov. 2, 2013, 23:14) http://www.indiatogether.org/2005/aug/rti-rticonf05.htm

B.

Shaweta Anand, CIC orders publication of PDS details, INDIA TOGETHER (Nov. 2, 2013,
23:14 )http://www.indiatogether.org/2010/jan/pov-pds.htm