RTI Act Amendment: ‘Save RTI’ Campaign in Maharashtra

Despite the incessant rain in the city, hundreds of social activists gathered at Pune's J M Road to protest against the changes in the Right to Information (RTI) Act made by the central government. Many of them have been actively using the provisions of the act and exposing the lacuna or even scams in the government works.

"Modi government has been anti-people on various fronts. Curtailing citizens’ right to information is one of its such activities. This government needs to be shown that majority doesn't mean an option to do whatsoever they think. People must unite and stand against this tyranny," said Subhash Ware, a senior social activist and one of the protestors.

But this was not first such gathering. In a meeting of social activists and RTI supporters in Pune last week, it was decided that the mobilisation and protests will be organised in three different ways. One is that localised protests will be arranged all over the state. Secondly, people will be made aware of the changes made to the RTI Act and will be explained how these changes pose a danger to the democracy, through social media. Third is to arrange meetings in smaller groups all over the state and connect them with each other.

"Now that President Kovind has signed the new Act with the amendments, it is not easy to restore the earlier law. For that, you will need mass movement and that moral pressure – to respect people's will – should be exerted on the government. It is a long battle now," said a young RTI activist from Pune, Tanmay Kanitkar.

Maharashtra was the first state in the country to bring in the RTI Act in the year 200. Veteran social activist Anna Hazare had led the agitation for this Act along with thousands of people. But Hazare was not satisfied with its provisions, so the state government formed a committee led by Madhav Godbole, former Home Secretary of India, to look into it. In 2002, the amendments to the earlier act were passed. The national act came into existence in 2005.

Vivek Welankar, another RTI activist from Pune, who has brought number of serious issues before the state using information through RTI, told NewsClick: "People must know that what they are losing with this new Act now. It is a direct attack on people's rights. Information from the government is not a luxury for the citizens, but is an essential part of any democracy. It is being suppressed now," he said.

Along with Pune, the agitation is now gaining momentum in Mumbai and other cities of the state. Anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania had recently called a public meeting in Mumbai to mobilise people. First Chief Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi is also leading the battle in Maharashtra. "Modi government was trying to make anti-people changes to the RTI Act from day one. But last time people rose against it, and so, it had to withdraw. This time, with the new majority, the government has made these changes. This is clearly an anti-people step and we must resist that," said Gandhi.

Former chief commissioner also raised a question on government's attempt to subvert the autonomy of the RTI institution. "With new changes, the independence of the RTI commissioners is threatened. This will ultimately go against the promise made by PM Modi himself about transparency in the governance. Therefore, he must withdraw it," said Gandhi.