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Of rights and wrongs 

The Magsaysay award prompts Arvind Kejriwal to intensify

his fight to secure the right to information in its entirety

It’s a paradox. Though Arvind Kejriwal has won the Magsaysay award for his contribution to India’s right to

information movement and empowering poor citizens to fight corruption, the government is proposing to

amend the Information (RTI) Act.For Kejriwal, it’s an awkward kind of situation. “On one hand there is this

international recognition of the RTI Act, on the other, I find my own government standing against it. It’s

difficult to describe the situation,” he says.

The proposed amendments seek to exclude most “file notings” from the purview of the Act. The

amendments propose to remove access to the material on the basis of which decisions are taken by the

Council of Ministers, and withdraw the current access to the identities of those who record the notings.

 “It basically proposes to exempt all information related to a process of any examination conducted by any

public authority. The amendments if brought and applied will kill the Act in its infancy. During its 11 months

of existence, the Act has made a promise of a better world where people are informed about the system

they are part of. No one can afford to lose from here. It is very important to get together and fight for our

right to be informed.” 

The head of Delhi-based welfare organisation, Parivartan, is planning a students’ rally from Jantar Mantar to

Parliament to catch the attention of policymakers in the Capital.

 “I have no complaint against policymakers, though. In fact these were the same people whose genuine will

power led to the foundation of RTI in October 2005 in the face of opposition from a dishonest faction in the

system. Today the same dishonest faction is taking a lead against the Act.” 

He explains, “They are doing it because if the Act is put to practice in letter and spirit, it is going to have an

impact on the country’s electoral process. May be not today, but five years down the line people will elect a

government based on the information they have of the previous governments. That is why some people

want to kill the Act.” 

The rally on August 7 by students of all the premier universities of the Capital also has a special programme

by Euphoria to emphasise upon youth to secure their right.

So, is the new recognition of any help? “It has helped a bit. They are now listening to us with more patience,

and even supporting our endeavours. The government has yet to congratulate me for the Magsaysay award,

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though” he says. (Parivartan has been running a campaign on Right to Information Act along with The

Indian Express for two years.)