RTI can help eradicate poverty

Speakers tell discussion

30 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The Right to Information (RTI) Act can be utilised to eradicate poverty along with curbing corruption in the country, speakers said at a discussion yesterday. “The RTI is a law that preserves the right of common people to know the information that concerns their lives," said Dr Shamsul Bari, chairman of the Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB). "It gives people access to information, and availability of information guards people from deprivation.” The discussion on 'The Experience of Marginalised Communities in the Application of Right to Information Act 2009 ' was organised by the RIB at the Jatiya Press Club in the city. The RIB chairman said most of the laws mean to regulate people's lives and society, but this very RTI Act means to monitor government activities to serve people's interest, and availability of information slims the possibility of corruption. Taking the advantage of the law, a few people have already brought changes in their lives and look forward to see changes in the attitude of government officials, he said adding that the spirit should be spread all over the country to all levels. Five representatives from different communities including ethnic Munda, Beday, Robidas, Horijon and Rishi shared their experiences at respective locality while asking government officers for information. Drawing examples from their experiences, they demanded information officers at district and upazila levels to provide grassroots people with information. Lauding the RIB initiative to bring marginalised people up to date with the RTI law, Chief Information Commissioner Md Zamir said only formulating a law will not work for the common people if attitude is not changed. "Often power and authority hold back information from flowing. Implementation of the law can open a new door of change.” He urged the government, NGOs and citizens of the country to come forward and lend a hand in implementation of the law. Sadeka Halim, one of the commissioners of the Information Commission, described the hindrances to full implementation of the law. She said, "We are going ahead and we can ensure the supply side but ensuring the demand side is in the hands of the public. Above all they should get aware of the legislation and its utilisation.” Information Commissioner Abu Taher emphasised the significance of good relation between government servants and common people in the country. Sohini Pal, senior project officer at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiatives, New Delhi, Aslamshah A Diwan, a RTI activist in Gujarat, shared their experiences in India regarding public awareness about the RTI and its utility. Information Commissioner Abu Taher and RIB Programme Officer Suraiya Begum made their presentations in the programme.