|
State
Level RTI: Karnataka
Law
The
Karnataka Government took steps to make information available to
the public as far back as 1997. From that time, many Government
departments - including the Department of Panchayati Raj, the Department
of Rural Areas and Employment and the Department of Urban Development
- issued Executive
Orders to provide access to information on developmental projects
undertaken by their Departments and to keep relevant records open
for inspection or available for copying for a nominal fee.
On
25 August 2000, the Executive Orders were supplemented by the Right
to Information Ordinance. The Ordinance was brought in because
the Karnataka Government recognised it was necessary to enact a
comprehensive law to ensure openness, transparency and accountability
in government administration as a matter of priority. As the State
Assembly was not in session at the time this policy decision was
made, the Governor passed an Ordinance on the matter as a first
step. The Karnataka
Right to Information Act was enacted soon after by the State
Assembly on 10 December 2000. Section 13 of the Karnataka Right
to Information Act, 2000 explicitly repeals the Karnataka Right
to Information Ordinance 2000 although it saves all actions taken
under the Ordinance. Unfortunately, the Act was not properly operationalised
until July 2002, when the Government of Karnataka notified the Karnataka
Right to Information Rules.
Activities
& Advocacy
- CHRI in collaboration with the Public Affairs
Centre (PAC) has conducted a number of workshops
on the right to information. CHRI and PAC were also responsible
for undertaking the first ever
implementation audit of a right to information law in India.
Implementation audits are designed to monitor the government's
preparedness and capacity to comply with access to information
laws. The Karnataka implementation audit was undertaken in 2002-03.
Citizens who agreed to participate in the audit were trained to
use the law and then filed 100 applications across 20 government
departments. These applications were tracked from the time of
filing to see if the departments complied with the law.
The
survey provided detailed information on the status of implementation,
as well as the level of awareness of the parameters and application
of the law amongst public officials. The implementation
audit revealed that over 80% of the applications were not responded
to and in cases where information was provided it was only after
repeated follow up by citizens and after the expiration of the 30
day time limit stipulated by the law. The experiences of the citizens
and the data collected were presented in a public meeting to the
heads of departments. The audit exposed the lack of awareness among
officials about the law, as well as the lack of systems to deal
with requests from citizens. The implementation audit was an effective
mechanism for citizens to monitor the working of the right to information
law in Bangalore and provide feedback to public authorities.
In
addition to their right to information advocacy, the Public
Affairs Centre (PAC) has also been involved in campaigns on
the voters' right to know in Karnataka for a number of years. PAC
more generally focuses on areas where a proactive role can be played
by the public in improving governance. PAC undertakes and supports
research on public policy and services, facilitates citizen action
support for collective action and provides advisory services to
state and non-state agencies.
For further information: Contact PAC at 422/80, Feet Road,
VI Block, Kormangala, Bangalore, 560095. Tel: 91-80-5520246/ 5525452/
5525453/ 5533467/5537260. E-Mail: pacindia.vsnl.com.
Website www.pacindia.org
- The Bangalore Core Group of the National Campaign
for People's Right to Information was set up immediately following
the passage of the Act. The Core Group comprised the Centre for
Education & Documentation (CED), Citizens Voluntary Initiative
for the City (CIVIC), CREAT, Madhyam, Nagrik, VOICES and MKSS-Bangalore.
The Core Group prepared draft rules under the KRTI Act, which
they submitted to the Karnataka Government in 2001. They have
also focused on trying to access information on key policies and
developmental projects. The Core Group continues to advocate for
amendments to the KRTI Act and for the creation of a State Right
to Information Council.
For further information: Contact Mr. Vinay Baindur,
Coordinator, Citizens Voluntary Initiative for the City (CIVIC),
S-612 Manipal Center, 47 Dickenson Road, Bangalore -660 042. Tel:
91-80-22264552. Fax: 91-80-5584654. E-Mail: civicblore@vsnl.com
- Consumer Rights, Education and Awareness Trust
(CREAT) is an organization working for the cause of consumers
rights in Karnataka. CREAT is also working on right to information
and has collaborated with CHRI on many occasions in creating awareness
on right to information in the state of Karnataka.
For further information: Contact CREAT at, Mr. Y.G.
Muralidharan, 239, 5th C Main, Remco Layout, Vijaynagar, Bangalore-560040,
Tel: 91-80-23357280, 23403170, Fax: 91-80-23303973,E-Mail: creatorg@sify.com,
Website: www.creatindia.org
- PROOF
Bangalore is a campaign, which was launched in July 2002 in
Bangalore. It focuses on budget transparency in the context of
the city's Municipal Corporation (the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike
(BMP)). PROOF works to encourage public debate around the release
of the BMP's quarterly financial reports and provides an opportunity
to bring financial accountability and performance measurement
into the public space.
For further information: Contact PROOF at 165 First
Floor, 9th Cross, 1st Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore 560 038, Tel:
91-80-5213902/03. Fax: 91-80-521390. E-Mail: proof_voices@vsnl.net.
Website: http://www.voicesforall.org/proof/index.htm
-
Janaagraha
is a people's movement to improve governance. JANAAGRAHA is
currently supporting three campaigns that engage citizens, government,
non-governmental organisations and corporate institutions: PROOF,
Ward Works and Swarna Jayanthi Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY).
For further information: Contact Janaagraha at 198,
Nandidurg Road, Bangalore - 560046. Tel: 91-80-354-2381, 354-2382,
354-2977. Fax: 91-80-354-2966. E-Mail:
info@janaagraha.org. Website: www.janaagraha.org
Resources
& Articles
Government
CHRI
Miscellaneous
- Subramaniam Vincent (2004) The
Pressure for Accountability: A Perspective from Karnataka,
22 July, Deccan Herald.
- Ramesh Ramanathan (2004) PROOF:
Right-to-Information or Disclosure Practice, June 16 to July
15 issue, Janaagraha Times.
- Nistulla Hebbar (2004) Paper
Tiger Act Awaits Action, 27 March, Times of India.
- Stanly Pinto (2004) KWD
charges a big price for its plan, 5 February, Times News
Network.
- Y. G. Muralidharan (2002) A Tool for Citizens'
Empowerment, 1 July, The Hindu.
- Staff Reporter (2000) Information
bill in the budget session, 9 April, The Times Of India
News Service.
Links
- BangaloreOne
Portal (a website to be launched by the Karnataka Government
in December 2004): A one-stop interface for citizens of Bangalore
and Government and Semi-Government organisations in Karnataka.
- Government
of Karnataka
EMAIL
US
To update us on your RTI activities / share your RTI stories
|
|
|
