On 30th May 2009, a coalition of various Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) in Bangalore launched a Right to Information (RTI) clinic between 2.00 PM and 4.00 PM in Cubbon Park (opposite the Bangalore Press Club entrance). Held at the same time and location on the last Saturday every successive month, this initiative will complete a year on May-29-2010.
The primary objective of these free entry sessions is to share success stories in using the RTI Act for public benefit. Nearly four hundred persons have approached the CSO’s through the clinics and elsewhere. This is encouraging everyone involved to continue spreading awareness on the power of the RTI Act and relevant legislations. By providing procedural guidance/assistance in utilizing these laws, the clinic’s facilitators have motivated people across the socio-economic spectrum to address civic and personal grievances with the government.
The facilitating CSO’s include the Anti-Corruption Forum (ACF), South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM), Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), Mahiti Hakku Adhyayana Kendra (MHAK), Urban Research Centre, OpenSpace, etc. Interestingly, some of these groups had been associated with monitoring the implementation of the Karnataka RTI Act since 2002.
For advice and training on the RTI Act, one can contact the following persons:
R. Manohar (SICHREM) : 95350-37596
Anand S. (ACF) : 92410-12730
K. Sudha (CFAR) : 94820-50981
Vikram Simha (MHAK) : 98860-20774
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