Transparency International India, Regional Chapter, Ranchi organised 10 Street Plays (Nukkad Naatak) in four districts of Jharkhand to make local people aware of Right to Information act under one of its projects ‘PAHAL – Shaasan Sudhar Ki Ore’. The plays were performed by a team of ten members from ‘Yuva Jagriti Sanskriti Kala Sangam’ in Koderma, Chatra, Ranchi and Khunti districts of Jharkhand.
The scripts of the plays were based on day-to-day problems faced by people and how they can be solved just with an RTI application in concerned department. In each play, 7 problems like pension, roads, electricity, etc were taken up and it was demonstrated that how people themselves can solve them with the help of RTI applications. A booklet having information about RTI and sample formats was distributed for future reference. TII Ranchi ALAC helpline Number was also given in this booklet so that people can contact TII for further queries or if they find any difficulty in filing RTI. The enthusiasm among the people was scintillating during the plays and there was a good participation.
The people were explained how they can seek the information from the government offices over every single rupee spent on govt projects just by filing an RTI Application. The script was written in local dialects in order to make the local rural masses understand about RTI better. The play attracted hoards of masses, which were very happy to know that they have such an important right and they did not know about it earlier.
The partner organisation, Yuva Jagriti Sanskriti Kala Sangam is a registered organisation, working to promote Indian culture and values through Nukkad Naatak (street plays). Recently they have done several good streets plays on Soochna ka Adhikar in Jharkhand, which inspired the local TII team to use this as tool to educate the rural masses in our project areas.
The team of ten members, Fabiyana Hemrom (Team Leader), Sita Mundu, Dashmi, Sanjay Kumar Sharma, Rajendra Kumar Mehato, Rajkumar Mehato, Ravindra Nayak, Harilal Mehato, Sunil Mundu and Asisan Topo performed these plays in a most natural manner.
The program was conducted at ten places of four districts of Jharkhand state. The locations were 1) Station Campus, Koderma, 2) Gandhi Chowk, Koderma, 3) Katcherry Koderma, 4) Ithakory Chowk, Chatra, 5) Devi Mandap, Chatra, 6) Indira Club Bank, Chatra, 7) Block Area, Khunti, 8) Baazar Taand, Khunti, 9) Kanke Block, Ranchi and 10) Sukurhuttu, Ranchi.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Partnership between Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan & TII for Governance Awareness among the Youth
TII in partnership with Nehru Yuvak Kendra trained hundreds of youth on tools of good governance across the states of Jharkhand, Bihar and Rajasthan.
In Bihar, the training programmes were undertaken by Shri Nemi Kumar, State Coordinator, Pahal, Bihar and Shri Ashok Kumar Singh, Master Trainer, Pahal, Bihar during October, 2011 across various zones of the state in Samastipur, Araria, Begusarai and Muzzaffarpur.
In Jharkhand, TII resource person Shri Sunil Kumar Mahto, took trainings in Ranchi and Giridih during Sept, 11.
In Jaipur in Rajasthan, TII resource person, Ranjana Kumari, conducted trainings from 10-19th October, 2011 on basics of rural and social development, especially gender, RTI and governance for the UNICEF-NYKS Yuva Project. 35 participants from 10 blocks across 5 districts (Tonk, Bara, Dungarpur, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer) of Rural Rajasthan attended the training at State Resource Centre, Jaipur.
In Bihar, the training programmes were undertaken by Shri Nemi Kumar, State Coordinator, Pahal, Bihar and Shri Ashok Kumar Singh, Master Trainer, Pahal, Bihar during October, 2011 across various zones of the state in Samastipur, Araria, Begusarai and Muzzaffarpur.
In Jharkhand, TII resource person Shri Sunil Kumar Mahto, took trainings in Ranchi and Giridih during Sept, 11.
In Jaipur in Rajasthan, TII resource person, Ranjana Kumari, conducted trainings from 10-19th October, 2011 on basics of rural and social development, especially gender, RTI and governance for the UNICEF-NYKS Yuva Project. 35 participants from 10 blocks across 5 districts (Tonk, Bara, Dungarpur, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer) of Rural Rajasthan attended the training at State Resource Centre, Jaipur.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Training Campaign on RTI in Chhattisgarh
A training campaign for school children was launched by TII Chhattisgarh team and network members on 29th July, 2011 in collaboration with the Chhattisgarh Information Commission & Departments of School Education (mainly in Raipur & Bilaspur districts).
The TII team trained 7443 school children from 30 schools in Raipur and Bilaspur rural and urban areas till October, 2011. The children immediately started pointing out problems that they can raise under RTI and prepared sample applications during the training. Participation certificates were distributed to all the students attending the trainings. TII team announced that they are making a group of young children, called ‘Soochna Doots’, where 665 students registered initially.
The campaign will go on to train students and youth in schools and colleges and engage citizens till December, 2011 and will culminate in a state level youth convention in Raipur on 9th December, 2011 (International Anti-Corruption Day).
Monday, October 3, 2011
Pahal : Citizens' Crusade against Corruption
In Madhubani, Bihar, on 9th September, 2011 the following events were organized by Transparency International India to raise awareness among citizens to fight corruption:
• Citizens Against Corruption Walk: 8-10 am
The walk started from Mahanthi Lal Chowk, through Churi Bazar towards Police Station, Collectorate, District Court, DRDA Office, Railway Station, Bus Stand, Shankar Chowk and back to Mahanthi Lal Chowk with active participation of citizens, youth and activists. The message given was very clearly communicated to the citizenry, while it was well-received by the people everywhere. Mr. Nemi Kumat, the Madhubani based programme coordinator for TII led the walk and other events.
• Anti-Corruption Support Camp : 11 am- 4 pm, District Collectorate, Madhubani
Thirty-five citizens registered their complaints related to various public services and schemes, especially the Kisan credit card and agricultural inputs related entitlements.
• Navodit Kavi Sammelan : 5-7 pm, Mahanthi Lal Temple Campus, Mahanthi Lal Chowk, Madhubani
Eight poets participated and presented their creations in the Kavi Sammelan organised by TII on the topic of governance and corruption, while the citizens enjoyed the cultural evening, immersed in the flavour of anti-corruption sentiments.
A differently abled corruption fighter wins the 3 year long fight for his rights
An RTI Appeal by a Disabled for Accessing Entitlements under Public Distribution System results in dual Rs. 25 K Fines in Jhanjharpur, Madhubani:
Ignoring a single RTI application filed by the differently abled Pahal volunteer, Mr. Manoj Kumar Jha resulted in the slapping of maximum fines of Rs. 25,000 on two senior most officials, the SDO and the BDO in Jhanjharpur sub-division.
The volunteer had asked for the information from the SDO Jhanjharpur about the three Fair price shop ownersin Jhanjharpur urban Panchayat to provide the list of PDS beneficiaries under their area, month-wise details of stock of essential commodities and its distribution from 1999-2009. After getting no response for more than a month, Manoj filed the first appeal with the Bihar Information Commission, resulting in an order to the SDO to give relevant information. Following the SIC order, the details of three PDS shops were given from 2010-11, still blocking the information sought for years 1999-2009.
After filing of the second appeal, the order was again passed with a warning to provide information and again not followed. For the third time, SIC was approached with the repeated second appeal. As it was quite clear that the information was being blocked, on March 1, 2011 dual fines were slapped by SIC on the SDO and the BDO, Jhanjharpur. Still, after imposition of the maximum fines, the officials are making excuses that the mice have eaten the documents and the information cannot be provided. The District Magistrate, Madhubani was instructed by the SIC to look into this complaint. According to the latest information from the ground, Manoj’s PDS entitlements have been started, as well as, the disabled pension paperwork is almost complete that will entitle him to Rs.200/month as pension.
Manoj thanks TII for the advice and support provided to successfully fight for his entitlements.
Ignoring a single RTI application filed by the differently abled Pahal volunteer, Mr. Manoj Kumar Jha resulted in the slapping of maximum fines of Rs. 25,000 on two senior most officials, the SDO and the BDO in Jhanjharpur sub-division.
The volunteer had asked for the information from the SDO Jhanjharpur about the three Fair price shop ownersin Jhanjharpur urban Panchayat to provide the list of PDS beneficiaries under their area, month-wise details of stock of essential commodities and its distribution from 1999-2009. After getting no response for more than a month, Manoj filed the first appeal with the Bihar Information Commission, resulting in an order to the SDO to give relevant information. Following the SIC order, the details of three PDS shops were given from 2010-11, still blocking the information sought for years 1999-2009.
After filing of the second appeal, the order was again passed with a warning to provide information and again not followed. For the third time, SIC was approached with the repeated second appeal. As it was quite clear that the information was being blocked, on March 1, 2011 dual fines were slapped by SIC on the SDO and the BDO, Jhanjharpur. Still, after imposition of the maximum fines, the officials are making excuses that the mice have eaten the documents and the information cannot be provided. The District Magistrate, Madhubani was instructed by the SIC to look into this complaint. According to the latest information from the ground, Manoj’s PDS entitlements have been started, as well as, the disabled pension paperwork is almost complete that will entitle him to Rs.200/month as pension.
Manoj thanks TII for the advice and support provided to successfully fight for his entitlements.
Rays of Hope.. a case from TII Anti-Corruption Support Centre
TII’s Anti-Corruption Support Centre helps an IAY beneficiary recover the illegally withdrawn amount of Rs.34,000 from the bank in Jhanjharpur, Madhubani:
Anila Devi, 30 years, wife of Amarnath Jha and resident of Gram Panchayat Lohna North got a sanction in her name for making a house under Indira Aawas Yojana in year 2010. His husband works as a migrant laborer in Ludhiana and during Feb-Dec, 2010, the family was residing in Ludhiana. Their child was born during this period in a Ludhiana hospital.
Incidentally, during the same period the first installment Rs.24,000 under IAY was debited to the family’s IAY account in the Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank, Pat Ghat Branch, Jhanjharpur. A middleman from that area connived with the bank officials not only to illegally withdraw this amount, but also to apply for the second installment of Rs.11,000, get it sanctioned from block office and again withdraw Rs.10,000 from the amount.
When the family came back to the village in June 2011, they enquired about IAY funds from the regional manager of the concerned bank, who informed them about the withdrawal. Baffled and depressed with the fraud, they approached the anti - corruption support centre run by TII in Jhanjharpur that immediately helped him file an RTI with the block office and concerned bank. The application was supported by the evidences of the family being in Ludhiana during the period of illegal withdrawal. The case was crystal clear and the responsible bank official returned the money to the beneficiary within 24 hours, any action is yet to be taken in this case against the responsible government and bank officials and the middlemen.
In a similar incident in Aurangabad recently on 23rd August 2011, a BPL family committed suicide due to the same kind of fraudulent practice of illegal withdrawal of IAY funds from the bank. It could have been prevented, had this family got some support from credible sources to recover the money.
Anila Devi, 30 years, wife of Amarnath Jha and resident of Gram Panchayat Lohna North got a sanction in her name for making a house under Indira Aawas Yojana in year 2010. His husband works as a migrant laborer in Ludhiana and during Feb-Dec, 2010, the family was residing in Ludhiana. Their child was born during this period in a Ludhiana hospital.
Incidentally, during the same period the first installment Rs.24,000 under IAY was debited to the family’s IAY account in the Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank, Pat Ghat Branch, Jhanjharpur. A middleman from that area connived with the bank officials not only to illegally withdraw this amount, but also to apply for the second installment of Rs.11,000, get it sanctioned from block office and again withdraw Rs.10,000 from the amount.
When the family came back to the village in June 2011, they enquired about IAY funds from the regional manager of the concerned bank, who informed them about the withdrawal. Baffled and depressed with the fraud, they approached the anti - corruption support centre run by TII in Jhanjharpur that immediately helped him file an RTI with the block office and concerned bank. The application was supported by the evidences of the family being in Ludhiana during the period of illegal withdrawal. The case was crystal clear and the responsible bank official returned the money to the beneficiary within 24 hours, any action is yet to be taken in this case against the responsible government and bank officials and the middlemen.
In a similar incident in Aurangabad recently on 23rd August 2011, a BPL family committed suicide due to the same kind of fraudulent practice of illegal withdrawal of IAY funds from the bank. It could have been prevented, had this family got some support from credible sources to recover the money.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Right to Food & Right to Service: A Case of PDS related entitlements in Madhubani
In Madhubani in July 2011, during my field visit to three Gram Panchayats of the district along with the well-known right to food activist, Shri Parshuram Ray, we found that hundreds of rural families having PDS coupons could not receive food grains and other essential commodities for the past 7-8 months. Obviously, both their right to food and the right to service was clearly being violated for months, despite the tall claims made by the state government about eliminating corruption from PDS system through distributing food coupons to all the beneficiaries.
In the same Gram Panchayats, in a meeting with PDS Shop Owners, they lamented about the problems faced by them in lifting the food and other commodities from the PDS godowns. They complained that they have to take a debt from open markets to deposit the money for commodities in advance to the civil supplies department, whereas the actual lifting and dispatch of commodities to them is much later. In the meanwhile, they have to pay interest on the money taken as debt. Moreover, there is a leakage in the total amount of commodities received by them, while villagers want to have the exact designated amount of commodities.As a result, the dealers are suffering substantial losses and are not ready to continue as PDS dealers at all.
We met the district and sub-divisional officers in Madhubani also to seek a solution to this problem in PDS delivery system and measures like inviting open tenders from more dealers, etc were suggested by the DM. Yet, there is no improvement in the situation till now and the overall service delivery under PDS is very poor in the district.
To highlight this grave violation of people’s basic right to food, Shri Parshuram Ray emphatically put forward these findings on a Bihar TV Channel, Sahara Samay at 8 pm, September 6 during a talk with Mr. Shyam Rajak, Minister, Civil Supplies Deptt, Govt of Bihar and shared the data and case studies about the failure of PDS coupon system in Bihar. He went on to suggest that all beneficiaries should participate in social audit of PDS Fair Price Shops. Though the Minister accepted the facts that the lifting of food grains is very low in Madhubani (only 33 % wheat, 12% rice) and some other districts like Sasaram and Patna, still the people are waiting since months with unlimited patience for their minimum basic food entitlements.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Accessing Rights through Right to Information
Pahal, the grassroots intervention of TII, was launched in May, 2009 in Chhattisgarh and in Oct, 2009 in Jharkhand and Orissa. There were many encouraging instances, where people in the poorest and remotest villages used tools like RTI and social audits to access their rights and entitlements and nudged and exposed corrupt departments. We are sharing some of the heartening successes in these states. We hope to share more such stories, as we started TII's campaign in Bihar from Feb, 2011.
Government Officials complete assignments after RTI queries: In Chhingpal Gram Panchayat of Jagdalpur block in Bastar district, the village hand pump needed repair and was not working for six months. The complaints did not result in any action by the usually laid back PHED department. As soon as an RTI application was filed by a young village volunteer Shri Iravati Baghel, who had attended a TII governance training programme a month back in April, 09, the technician came with his machines and set the pump right within a week. He shared his mobile number and assured the villagers that there is no need to complain to the department in future and he will voluntarily come for repairs, if villagers called him in need. In the same village, the payments under the old age pension of about 15 elderly persons were pending for the last six months that were regularized after filing an RTI application.
Mid Day Meal Scheme: In one such effort, the TII Jharkhand team surveying 15 government schools in Chouparan block of Hazaribagh found that 13 schools were not serving meals under the MDMS for the last fortnight. Taking note of these findings highlighted in the media, the Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram visiting Ranchi on 23rd of Oct, 09 sought a report from the State HR Dept about functioning of MDMS. As a result, the government machinery is now considering for its effective monitoring.
NREG Scheme: Similarly, NREG Scheme work sites were opened in 7 locations of Jharkhand in Pahal areas after the TII team filed applications on behalf of 469 job card holders. In the rest of Jharkhand, NREGS implementation is suspended using the excuse of ongoing Jharkhand assembly elections.
Public Distribution System: In villages of Khurda, the Fair Price Shops (FPSs) used to sell the supplies worth at least Rs.50,000/month in the black market meant for the BPL families, according to a TII survey estimate. It is the poor families who either starve or pay this amount from their pockets later, when they buy these commodities from open market to meet minimum food requirement. Due to filing of RTI applications on distribution of entitlements under PDS and the mass pressure built on FPSs dealers by TII volunteers and villagers, they have started distributing the full quantities of essential commodities.
Angul Farmers Say No to Bribe: Filing of more than 40 RTI applications on various issues by Pahal Angul team has resulted in RTI revolution and mass support for demanding transparency and accountability from local government departments. In an important success, an RTI query on Orissa vermiculture subsidy scheme resulted in returning of money taken as bribe. From the answer provided, it came out that there is no extra fee for sanctioning the subsidy of Rs.8,000 under the scheme, while officials took Rs.1000 as ‘processing charges’(!). Armed with this information, about 20 farmers who paid Rs.1000, took hold of the concerned officials and got the money returned immediately.
Government Officials complete assignments after RTI queries: In Chhingpal Gram Panchayat of Jagdalpur block in Bastar district, the village hand pump needed repair and was not working for six months. The complaints did not result in any action by the usually laid back PHED department. As soon as an RTI application was filed by a young village volunteer Shri Iravati Baghel, who had attended a TII governance training programme a month back in April, 09, the technician came with his machines and set the pump right within a week. He shared his mobile number and assured the villagers that there is no need to complain to the department in future and he will voluntarily come for repairs, if villagers called him in need. In the same village, the payments under the old age pension of about 15 elderly persons were pending for the last six months that were regularized after filing an RTI application.
Mid Day Meal Scheme: In one such effort, the TII Jharkhand team surveying 15 government schools in Chouparan block of Hazaribagh found that 13 schools were not serving meals under the MDMS for the last fortnight. Taking note of these findings highlighted in the media, the Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram visiting Ranchi on 23rd of Oct, 09 sought a report from the State HR Dept about functioning of MDMS. As a result, the government machinery is now considering for its effective monitoring.
NREG Scheme: Similarly, NREG Scheme work sites were opened in 7 locations of Jharkhand in Pahal areas after the TII team filed applications on behalf of 469 job card holders. In the rest of Jharkhand, NREGS implementation is suspended using the excuse of ongoing Jharkhand assembly elections.
Public Distribution System: In villages of Khurda, the Fair Price Shops (FPSs) used to sell the supplies worth at least Rs.50,000/month in the black market meant for the BPL families, according to a TII survey estimate. It is the poor families who either starve or pay this amount from their pockets later, when they buy these commodities from open market to meet minimum food requirement. Due to filing of RTI applications on distribution of entitlements under PDS and the mass pressure built on FPSs dealers by TII volunteers and villagers, they have started distributing the full quantities of essential commodities.
Angul Farmers Say No to Bribe: Filing of more than 40 RTI applications on various issues by Pahal Angul team has resulted in RTI revolution and mass support for demanding transparency and accountability from local government departments. In an important success, an RTI query on Orissa vermiculture subsidy scheme resulted in returning of money taken as bribe. From the answer provided, it came out that there is no extra fee for sanctioning the subsidy of Rs.8,000 under the scheme, while officials took Rs.1000 as ‘processing charges’(!). Armed with this information, about 20 farmers who paid Rs.1000, took hold of the concerned officials and got the money returned immediately.
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