Right to Information in India

The cliche is not quite right: information by itself is not power. But information is a source of learning. However, it should be organised, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, else it is a burden, not a benefit. Grassroot movements demanding freedom of information began in India in 1990’s intensifying the process of paradigm shift from a state centric to citizen centric model of development. After being pressurised from all sides, the state finally responded and passed the Right to Information Act in October 2005, to promote good governance. The RTI Act in about six and a half years of its working has fundamentally changed the power equation between the government and governed. Thanks to the RTI Act, in India, real Master- the Common Man is finally being recognised by the “Public Servants”. No other law on India’s statute book gives citizens so much power, so simply, to question any public authority in the country. Information Commissions, media and civil society organisations are playing a crucial role of watchdogs, scrutinising and monitoring the implementation of the Act.