The circle is now complete since it was Veeresh "Kr" who started this message thread over here and CHRI has now stepped in to defend Shailesh an HJ, lets recall what Veeresh Malik (vigorous defender of all things Indian) had to say over at HumJanenge as far back as Dec 2006 about Shailesh/NCPRI + CHRI + ISI (message text appended below)
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/HumJanenge/message/12674 Ashish -== In humjane...@yahoogr... .. Veeresh Malik<vee...@gm....> wrote ==-- "My comments here are:- a) Very few amongst the few RTI people I know can take a debate further, beyond differences, and continue it. It is called open lines of communication, an essential part of successful agitation. Very few people who consider themselves to be socially aware in India have this simple quality. Mahatma Gandhi had it, which is why he reached where he did. Shailesh Gandhi does not have it, as an example, ever since I asked him to adhere to Section 4 of the RTI Act, he has stopped communicating back, when all he needed to do was to put a few paragraphs on the HJ website itself about the fiducuary relationship between NCPRI and CHRI and ISI (Indian Social Institute), instead of passing vapid jokes about not knowing how to upload. As I tell the people in my office when I moderate meetings (and these are largely non-urban origin rapid-growth young adults in India as Indians out of choice, in the infotech field with rapidly evolving social skills) that in a (say) 6-person meeting, one decision will emerge and all will have to carry it forward even if the others have various levels of is agreement / differences.They understand and adhere and implement this fast. Obviously I can not expect this at HJ. As yet. b) I am increasingly seeing how RTI decisions of the "high-end" sort are being lobbed into the Judiciary, where they enter the existing pendencies. Well, that is part of the package of opting to live in a democracy, anything else would not be a democracy, and trying to force a time-line is the first essence of a dictatorship in such cases. My views on how those who scream loudest for transparency and do not provide it themselves are well known and as far as I am concerned, they can debate it till the cows come home, but as on date over 90% of the 600+ RTI applications I have helped in have been resolved before reaching any Information Commissions. That's a good batting average by any yardstick, so I really do not understand why CIC's monthly disposal of cases can be a yardstick for anything. It is obvious that only the more difficult cases will reach the CIC for decisions, so it is obvious to me that they will take time, and most Public Authorities will soon start disposing of cases and applications at their levels especially when the issues are simple and local. That many of these cases which are facing delays at CIC pertain to the inner workings of the Government of Free India as we have known it for almost 6 decades now, and the inertia levels therein, needs also to be taken into account. We can not wish it away in one year, regardless of how many shirts are taken off. c) At the same time, a majority of what I would call "ground level" RTI decisions are being resolved at the PIO/AA/SIC/CIC levels, and do not enter the Judiciary. So fine, they are taking some time now, but believe me, at the lower levels of governance, which would be the local elected bodies and the local public authorities, the RTI Act seems to be making valid progress. I personally know people who are into local level politics who have realised that RTI will be an electoral issue the next time they face the voter. And that is where I personally think the RTI activists and movement needs to concentrate. Adopt a district, a tehsil, a small town, even a village, and use the RTI to fix things at a lower level. And then move on, give up ownership, move to the next town. Avoid the lure of the tv camera or media interview. For which, frankly, the delays at CIC or SIC are not even relevant. +++ Which then brings me to my next hypothesis:- As it is India is currently mis-ruled top-down. "Son of" and "Daughter of" kind of attributes decide this "top-down" governance. So till "S/o" or "D/o" RTI Activists come to the fore, nothing much is going to change though I do see a few "Daughter of" scenarios emerging. But on the ground, local governance, it is still open season. Amongst other things, elected representatives are not "permanent" because seats keep shifting between general / SC / ST / Women etcetc. And if local elected representatives are playing musical chairs, then local public authorities are not far behind. And that will be the strength of the RTI, when it keeps local public authorities in check. So where does the (respected) SIC/IC/CIC, and the delays there, come into this picture, then? +++ Yes, yes, I know. But do you? The SIC/IC/CIC come into the picture when you consider the annual jamboree or durbar in Delhi as the pinnacle of your RTI "career", and stick it in your bio-data. Good for you. +++" On Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 10:23 PM, rti advice <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Ms Daruwala > > Was that totally agreeable vote a "Yes for SG" at HJ or for the "No to > SG" at RTI_India ? > > What are CHRI's views on NGOs like CCS and NCPRI operating in RTI > > http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/ai/rti/india/national.htm > http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/ai/rti/india/states/delhi.htm > > R.A. > > --- In [email protected], "Maja Daruwala" <maja.daruw...@...> wrote: >> >> have to agree totally. MD >> >> 2008/12/26 veeresh kumar <v4veer...@...> >> >> > --- In humjane...@... <HumJanenge%40yahoogroups.co.in>, >> Maja Daruwala >> Director >> Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative >> B-117, First Floor, Sarvodaya Enclave >> New Delhi, INDIA, 110017 >> Tel No 91 11 26864678:26850523 (O) >> Tel No 91 11 26868961 (H) >> Fax No 91 11 26864688 (O) >> email: direc...@... >> email: maja.daruw...@... >> >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >
