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Right to Information

Right to Information

All-India helpline, 92504 00100, to help masses with filing RTI submissions and answer related questions.

Express News Service

New Delhi, November 19: Last year, Indian Oil sales officer Manjunath Shanmugam died fighting corruption. So it was only fitting that on the his first death anniversary today, an initiative was launched to give boost India’s most powerful corruption-fighting tool — the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The national RTI helpline — 92504 00100 — will be at the service of all who needs help to use the Act. A team of specially trained call centre executives will answer all queries. The service will be provided initially in three languages — English, Hindi and Tamil - on all days from 8 am to 4 pm.

The helpline has been set up by Manjunath Shanmugam Trust — founded by a group of IIM alumni in Manjunath’s memory — in partnership with Parivartan, a Delhi-based NGO. Manjunath, an IIM-Lucknow graduate, was murdered on November 19, 2005, in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri, following his efforts to curb oil adulteration. A petrol pump dealer and seven accomplices stand accused of his murder.

Inaugurating the helpline today by making the first call, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy said: “The helpline is a wonderful way to take the RTI Act to the people, many of whom still know relatively little about the Act and how to use its power.” Calling the Act a historic legislation, Murthy, speaking from Johannesburg, South Africa, said: “For any democracy to consider itself evolved, it’s imperative that its government and authorities are accountable.”

Also calling in to express support was Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development, Kiran Bedi. “The best way to honour Manjunath is by making honesty our responsibility. The RTI is a potent tool to enable accountability in public administration. I urge every Indian to use this facility (helpline) and the RTI Act,” she said.

Magsaysay awardee, RTI activist and founder of Parivartan, Arvind Kejriwal, said: “We find that even educated people who know about the Act and its power are not familiar with the procedure to use it. The helpline, by providing such assistance, will bring the Act to the masses and empower them to seek accountability in public administration.”

The helpline, serviced by Gurgaon-based Sparsh BPO Services, is expected to reach out to around 20,000 people per month and will be scaled up based on the response it receives.

1 comments:

  1. anu said...
     

    Wonderful.
    Thanks for the information.

    :)

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