Swarajya
LOK Satta has revised draft Bill. The freedom of Information Act-2000 new before parliament to ensure
- definite time limit
- independent appeal
- independent appeal mechanism
- penalties for freedom of infomation
The text of the revised Bill is given below:
Under the Swarajya movement, which is aimed at true
empowerment of local governments, seven specific, local reform goals have been identified
as follows:
Right to information
Citizen's Charter for accountable public services
Empowerment of local governments
Empowerment of stakeholders
Universal access to primary education
Speedy justice through rural courts
Toilets in every house hold to promote human dignity
Massive campaigns are launched to mobilize public opinion
in favour of these goals, and to make people understand their relevance to their day to
day lives. These goals are chosen as the basis of the following criteria:
They are no cost/ low cost goals
They can be achieved locally- within the town, district
or State
They are strategic goals empowering people
They are acceptable to all sections of public opinion
Newspapers, radio, television, demonstrations, meetings,
signature campaigns, street theatre, seminars, conferences and other techniques of
mass-mobilization are employed to promote public awareness. Already the government was
compelled to respond in some measure to these initiatives. In response to Lok Satta’s
campaign the State Government initiated the effort to prepare Citizen’s charter in
select departments. Lok Satta spearheaded the agitation of Sarpanches and other local
government leaders for empowering local government with marginal success so far. However,
a major campaign is now being launched for local government empowerment and reforms in
local elections now in time for the next local elections due in March 2000. Water users
and parents of school children are partially empowered as stake holders by legislation.
The government responded to Lok Satta’s pressure and launched a large, though
inadequate, scheme to build house-hold toilets all over the State with people’s
participation.
