RTI unlocks the door to government files where all the information pertaining to your applications for passport, licence, pension, etc. is kept and processed. It also allows you inspect government offices, properties, works, documents, registers, and obtain samples of material. You can ask for the datewise work done on any of your matter pending with a department.

In other words, RTI helps you go deep into the government's lair and pull out exactly what you need.

But why would you do that? Let us give you a broader view of how the RTI can help.

You face a variety of problems with the government departments, police, educational institutions, passport offices, PWD, municipality, etc.

1. You have some pending work with a department and they are not doing it.
2. They are expecting or demanding a bribe.
3. You submitted a grievance but they are simply not acting on it.
4. You made a complaint against any wrongdoing, but without any result.
5. A decision was taken that affected you but you were not given the reasons.
6. Your company did some government work but they are not releasing your payment.

You can use the Right to Information Act, 2005 to overcome such problems. File a request for that information which will make government officers uncomfortable or expose their corruption. Usually, this forces them to act and do your work first & then report a positive status so that you may be kept in good humour.

Have you ever thought

1. Why are the streets and colonies so dirty?
2. Why are manhole covers or footpath slabs over sewer lines missing, posing danger to life?
3. Why are the roads in your area in such a pathetic condition?
4. Why are people dying of starvation in various parts of the country?
5. Why are still so many people forced to live in abject poverty?
6. Why your local municipality does so little and always claims that they have no funds?
7. Why your local ration shop never has any ration?
8. Why there is never any doctor or medicines at the government hospital?
9. Where have all the teachers in the government schools gone?

Some of us feel that we need good politicians and good bureaucrats. However, real change can come only when the people of this country have the power to hold their governments accountable. When that happens, no government or politician would dare to be corrupt, inefficient or insensitive.

How do we hold the government accountable

To make the government accountable, we need information regarding government decisions and how exactly it functions.

The Right to Information Act empowers us to do just that. It gives us the right to obtain information from the government about matters that affect us in thousands of ways. Used innovatively, such information could lead to exposure of corruption and inaction, and make the government responsive and accountable.

The government spends so much money on various works in your area. You should ask for the details of all the works carried out by the municipal body in your area. How much money was spent? On what works was it spent? Similar information was asked by people all over the country since October 2005. When the information was physically verified, it turned out that a number of works existed only on paper. Won’t you like to hold the government similarly accountable in your area, city and state?

Under the RTI Act, you can demand the following from any government body:

1. photocopies of most documents, records, file notings, correspondence, tenders, contracts, payments, estimates, measurements of engineering works, etc.
2. inspection of documents - books, registers, files, drawings, records - absolutely anything
3. samples of material used in the construction of roads, drains, buildings, etc.
4. inspection of any under-construction or completed work done by the government
5. the status of your complaints, requests, applications, etc.

To better understand how RTI works, please explore other links.