Information is power: Jagadananda

Information is power. By empowering people, especially the common masses, we can build up a good citizenry. Right to Information (RTI) Act is a great tool in the hands of people which can not only help them to redress their grievances, but make the authorities sensitive and accountable, feels Mr Jagadananda, the Information Commissioner, Orissa

Mr Jagadanana, a social worker and great visionary, shares his views on RTI, its implementation, challenges and successes with A.K. Sahu and Snigdha Behera.
How do you feel in your new responsibility?
Ans: After the independence, there was a wide gap between the citizens and institutions of governance. As a social activist, I have always tried to bring citizens to the centre to demand for governance accountability.
In the last two decades, I utilised my energy and time for people’s empowerment. There was no dearth of programmes for socio-economic welfare of the masses. We have several welfare programmes such National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Backward Region Grant Fund, Sarvasikshya Abhiyan and Jawahar Lal National Urban Renewable Mission. But the results of these programmes – as I feel – have not adequately reached the targeted beneficiaries due to lack of awareness and absence of accountability of the implementing agencies.
In the last five years, I was more focused on citizen-led accountability to bridge this gap between the governance and the governed. The new responsibility has helped me take a few more steps forward to achieve this goal.
What challenges are you facing in the new position?
Ans: Yes, there are some challenges; - I would rather call these challenges as responsibilities and obligations. More and more use of RTI should be done on policy issues which are affecting the vulnerable communities. RTI can be used not only for grievance redressal, but also for setting things right in the administration and programme implementation agencies.
Political parties have started using RTI Act. They have a major role in promoting this legislation.
Newspapers and electronic media are not using RTI vigorously. If they start using this tool extensively, their credibility will go up; - content will be empirical and much richer. The academic communities and the research institutions also use RTI Act to get required information.
How can RTI Act be widely successful?
Ans: At present, there are two major problems; – our record keeping is so historic, old and archaic that there is lot of wastage of time in searching the papers. People are searching and searching for records. Cataloguing of the records and scientific record-keeping is required. Secondly, a change in the mindset of officials is required. This Act is a tool which gives new power to the citizens.
Information is great power. By providing this power to the people, we are creating a better society and informed citizenry. This ensures transparency and good governance, thus bringing prosperity to the society. The mantra of transparency should be embraced by all authorities – public or private.
Does illiteracy stand in the way of successful implementation of RTI?
Ans: Yes, it is. Illiteracy is still a major problem. We have to find out ways how to solve this. We have also to think how to deal with the illiterate masses.
The illiterate masses need to be communicated in the medium or media that they understand or comfortable with. The Information Commission, Orissa, has prepared information, education and communication in tribal languages. Literatures have been prepared in Kui, Kuvi, Ho/Munda, Desia, Saura, Santhali, Koya, Sadri and some other tribal and local languages to inform the people about their rights.
This apart, other available means of communication tools such as local fairs, folk dances and cultural gatherings can be utilised to empower the masses.
In Bihar, people have been provided a toll free number. They can directly call up the authorities and register their queries. If Bihar can do this, why cannot we?
It is often alleged that nodal departments are not often forthcoming in parting with information.
Ans: Nodal departments should act proactively so that the bottlenecks are removed. There need to be training and capacity building programmes for employees of nodal departments. Public authorities need capacity building for better understanding of the people’s problem and empathising with the people. This sensitivity has to be inculcated involving the people.
Citizen groups also require capacity building so that right actions can be asked at right time in the right way. If we are able to increase the sense of accountability in the minds of the authorities, there will be better transparency. Once the level of transparency increases, corruption can be checked to a great extent.
Is it a fact that the Official Secrets Act and RTI Act often clash?
Ans: In reality, the RTI Act supercedes the Official Secrets Act. Some changes are needed to be made to fine tune the RTI Act. Besides, Secretariat Manual, Orissa Record Rules and Rules of Business are also required to be fine tuned. The governance activities also need to be charterised.
Does social audit supplement RTI?
Ans: Social audit is yet another effective tool which can make authorities accountable. We have to ensure that the people make an audit of the public authorities. Social audit consolidates the RTI movement.
I consider the power of social audit is an extension of the fundamental rights given by the Indian constitution to its citizens. The Information Commission, on the other hand, is a quasi judicial body, not an office of governance. The whole work of the Commission is to see that the citizen gets justice.
How many cases the Commission gets a day?
Ans: On an average, the Commission is getting almost 15 cases a day. The Information Commission is an appellate body. It generally takes up cases which are not solved at the base levels.
What would say on voluntary disclosure of information by public authorities?
Ans: Section 4 of the RTI Act outlines the role of public authorities in terms suo moto disclosure of information about documents and catalogues on 17 items like the budget they handle, grievance redressal and salary. As a part of their role, they have to notify and inform the public about their policy which may positively or adversely affect people. Such an exercise will take the administration closer to the people.
This initiative should start right from the block level.
What suggestions would you like offer for better use the RTI Act?
Ans: All government and public offices should be computerised under Orissa Modernising Governance Initiatives (OMGI). The government, the public and policy makers should join hands to work collaboratively for modernisation of the entire governance programme, record keeping and creation of database as well as file movements.
Lastly, would you please honestly say if you face political interference?
Ans: No, - not at all. I’m discharging my duties and responsibilities with complete autonomy. Everybody knows it’s a quasi judicial body. I would like to appeal everybody to make maximum utilisation of the RTI Act for their own benefits as well as welfare of the society. RTI is the second freedom struggle and we have to make it a great success.