RTI changing rural lives

Community learning centre at Chanderhat Ganokendra, Narsingdi.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Z.A.M. Khairuzzaman


THE Right to Information (RTI) Act, which completes nine months in the statute books in November, is reaching the rural areas too, where villagers have access to services provided by different government (GO) and non-government organisations (NGO).

The Uttar Shilmandi (Daripara) village in Narsingdi district is one such example. Most of the villagers are either marginal farmers or manual labourers. In view of a variety of structural disadvantages, i.e. illiteracy, malnutrition, and social complications, they fail to progress. After the enactment of the RTI Act, people are being provided with necessary information on rural development programs, agricultural extension and utilities as well as information on social development, such as health, education, finance, legal etc.

The Chanderhat Ganokendra, a community learning centre established by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), a major NGO, has been addressing the information needs of the rural population and spreading awareness about the Act. As a result, villagers are gradually waking up to the power of RTI.

Chanderhat provides "one-stop" access to various information resources to benefit the disadvantaged community. "Villagers have started seeking information related to their problems," DAM Regional Coordinator Tapan Kumar Sarker said.
The centre provides linkage services of government and non-government organisations. It has become the heart of the poor community. From here, they get easy access to different services.

During a visit to the Ganokendra, this correspondent noticed that villagers, most of whom were ultra-poor, had lined up to receive services from various centres located at the Ganokendro. The centres included an immunisation centre run by the government's Health Directorate, a nutrition centre of Vard, a satellite clinic of the government's Family Planning Directorate and Surjomukhi Mohila Unnyan Dal, which is managed by Village Development Society.

People learn about their rights, such as their right to health, work, legal system, and various public services including VGF card, elderly allowance and widow allowance, said Hasina Begum and Masuda Akhter, two members of the Ganokendro.
Inspired residents of the village questioned the school administration about the studies of their children. The school administration immediately replied to their queries.

Chanderhat helps people get their children admitted to schools, discourages school dropouts, improves the standard of literacy, sets up sanitary latrines, prevents child marriage and dowry, provides health care service, helps in birth and marriage registration, and motivates people to improve the social atmosphere.
Its activities are being supervised by an executive committee elected from among its members, 60% of whom are women. People's drama, essay competition, poetry recital, debate, rally are also held at the centre, where people also bring out wall magazines.

The Papri Community Resource Centre (CRC), another resource centre at Moddhya Shilamandi, also renders similar services to the rural poor. This correspondent observed that a group of youth were undergoing an elementary computer training course for free to increase their capacity for employment.This has been possible due to launching of ACCESS Project of DAM, which is funded by CORDAID of the Netherlands.

The project was launched in January, 2007, and will continue till December, 2009. The program is being implemented through 553 Ganokendros and 23 CRCs of 44 unions in eight upazilas of eight districts. A total of 55,300 people are being benefited under the project, resulting in improvement in their lifestyle.

Earlier, people had a tough time in getting VGD-VGF cards, elderly allowance, disabled allowance and other essential services in the project areas. But this year, 3,525 people got VGD cards, 34, 216 VGF cards, 7,048 elderly allowance, 859 disabled allowance while 12,673 got elementary education. Not only that, 671 school dropouts were readmitted to school and 25 child marriages were prevented.

Apart from this, 227 received computer training, 47 attained mobile servicing skills, 15 were imparted honey cultivation training, 6,311 others were provided with necessary information relating to health, agriculture and livelihood, 129 got government forms, 660 were connected to service-oriented organisations through cell phone and 240 others were provided with results of public examinations, job information and e-mailing through Internet services.

Moreover, special programs were implemented in six villages of six upazilas in nine different areas with a view to create illiteracy-free villages.Computer training was imparted to villagers through 23 community resource centres of 23 unions in six districts.

The project has created a positive change in the backward areas.According to ACCESS Project Coordinator Komol Kumar Joarder, this is a way to empower poor villagers. It is like a lifeline to rural Bangladesh. DAM has shown great potential to transform the life of rural society, he said.

Z.A.M.Khairuzzaman is a journalist.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=115927

World Bank Board Broadens Access in New Disclosure Policy

freedominfo.org - Update, November 18, 2009

Washington, DC - The World Bank's executive directors November 17 approved a new policy on access to information that will mean significantly more transparency about Bank decision-making and operations.

The Bank's press release said, "The new policy represents a fundamental shift in the Bank's approach to disclosure of information--moving from an approach that spells out what documents it can disclose to one under which the Bank will disclose any information in its possession that is not on a list of exceptions."

Although just such a shift was pushed by transparency advocates, the final product was weakened in their eyes by the breadth of the exemptions. Nevertheless, the new policy is expected to provide considerably more access to materials about projects and policies under preparation and how they are implemented.

Read More at http://freedominfo.org/ifti/20091118.htm

Supreme Court of Nepal Rejected to Issue an Interim Order

In a first-ever case on Right to Information in the Supreme Court after the promulgation of Right to Information Act 2007, the apex court decided not to issue an interim order as sought by the writ petitioner Tribhuvan University. Division Bench of honorable Justices Khilraj Regmi and Abadesh Kumar Yadav were not convinced that there is a need to issue an interim order to stop Information Commission from considering appeals filed against the University.

Tribhuvan University, the oldest university of the country went to the Court when the National Information Commission (NIC) ordered it last month to provide the copy of marked answer sheets as demanded by one of its student. TU petitioned the SC to quash the order made by NIC compelling it to provide answer sheets and demanded an interim order.

Organizations working for Right to Information and Human Rights lawyer expressed their keen interest in the case and were present in the Court pleading on behalf of National information Commission. Senior Advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari, Advocates Raman Shrestha, Madhav Basnet and Santosh Sigdel had assisted the NIC in this preliminary hearing.

The Supreme Court also decided to hear this case on priority basis.

In Shanghai, President Obama Recognizes Access to Information as Universal Right

Shanghai, China — On his first trip to Asia, President Obama made unequivocal statements about access to information as a universal human right at a rare town-hall style meeting of university students November 16. Over 2 years ago, the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Open Government Information (OGI Regulations) were published on April 24, 2007, and became effective one year later—a turning point for the deeply ingrained culture of government secrecy in China.

Speaking about the sometimes strained relationship between the US and China, President Obama made what the media is calling “delicately balanced message” that both admonishes the Chinese government and tries to encourage cooperation:

“We do not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation, but we also don't believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation. These freedoms of expression and worship—of access to information and political participation—we believe are universal rights. We do not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation, but we also don't believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation. These freedoms of expression and worship—of access to information and political participation—we believe are universal rights.”

Even though the town-hall meeting was available through a live feed on the White House website, TV coverage was restricted to Shanghai. Still, many thousands people throughout China attended the event virtually in classrooms, coffee houses, living rooms, and at “watch parties” organized by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates. The President also spoke at length about how technology has facilitated free information, diversity, and openness, thus inspiring innovation, creativity, and even strength.

“But I am a big believer in technology and I'm a big believer in openness when it comes to the flow of information. I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable. They can begin to think for themselves. That generates new ideas. It encourages creativity."

“And so I've always been a strong supporter of open Internet use. I'm a big supporter of non-censorship. This is part of the tradition of the United States that I discussed before, and I recognize that different countries have different traditions. I can tell you that in the United States, the fact that we have free Internet—or unrestricted Internet access is a source of strength, and I think should be encouraged.”

President Obama had met President Hu Jintao when he first arrived in China and meets again November 17 with President Hu and other Chinese leaders to discuss climate change, trade, North Korea, and Iran. White House aides have said Obama will raise several human rights issues privately with Chinese leaders.

http://freedominfo.org/news/20091116.htm

TU challenged the decision of National Information Commission

The Tribhuvan University filed a writ petition on 11 November 2009 against the decision made by the National Information Commission (NIC). Last month the NIC had decided that students have the right to get a copy of answer sheet when result of examination is published.

In the writ petition filed by the Registrar of Tribhuvan University and Chairperson of Examination Board Mr. Bhimraj Adhikari, it is claimed that the decision of NIC is against the policy decision of government on maintaining the secrecy of examination and against the law. Similarly, TU had claimed that the answer sheet falls under the classified information according the to the classification made by the government and asked for stay order against the decision of NIC.

In a decision last month the NIC directed the TU to provide copy of answer sheet without revealing the name of examiner if a student apply for a copy before answer sheets are destroyed pursuant to TU regulation. NIC had interpreted that the right to information covers the right of the students to get copies of their answer sheet.
Under the education policy of Nepal there is no provision allowing students to get copy of their answer sheets. It seemed possible only after enactment of RTI Act 2007.

Baburam Bhattarai Files for Defamation

KATHMANDU, Nov 10: Vice-Chairman of Unified CPN- Maoist Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai has filed a defamation case at Kathmandu District Court against Tarun, accusing the weekly newspaper of publishing ´misleading´ material aimed at character assassination.

Tarun, which is close to the Nepali Congress, published an article accusing Bhattarai of involvement in a dirty game to become the next prime minister of Nepal under designs of India´s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Bhattarai said “Though we know that the existing judiciary is not effective, I moved the court as we had no option.”

The article written by Dirgha Raj Prasain under the heading “Let´s unmask and eliminate the traitors” (Desh Drohi Ko Biruddha Khaando Jagaaun) says “RAW wants Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai to be the next prime minister of Nepal by undermining parties like Nepali Congress and CPN-UML so that Nepal´s fate could be like that of Sikkim in the hands of Lendup Dorje”.

Bhattarai said he never played such a role against the country.

The writer, publisher and editor, assistant editor, managing director of Tarun are defendants in the case.

Bhattarai has sought maximum sentence under the defamation act. The act says offenders will be fined up to Rs. 5,000 and sentenced to jail for up to two years.

Prasain accused him of working against the national interest and serving Indian interests to become prime minister.