The right to change lives

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Harinesh Pandya and his organisation has helped more than 1.5 lakh people gain access to information through the RTI Act


By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, January 02, 2010 http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Sachin%2020dulkar§id=68&contentid=20100102201001021627553566819e858) (Pic - Manish Mistry)
Helping hands
Soon after the Right to Information Act came into effect, confusion abound. Officials, applicants and organisations had no clue about the rules. Neither did they know whom to approach. That’s when Harinesh Pandya and his NGO Janpath, who were already working on the right to freedom of information, decided to make the knowledge accessible to all.
Born was Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel, a forum of organisations and activists working on RTI. Till date, the panel has helped 1.5 lakh people. These include applicants who seek information under the RTI act and also officials who are ignorant of its rules.
The panel has a helpline on which they have received 45,826 calls in the past four years. Every year, the number of calls increase. This year, they registered 11,755 calls. “We even receive calls from Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Bengal and Assam too. Anyone who wants information regarding RTI can call us,” said Harinesh.
Every week, the organisation also holds a Saturday clinic for people who want to sort out their problems face to face. “We are approached by officials who want to know what sort of information can be given, how it should be given. People who need help filling up forms, want to re-appeal, check if the replies contain relevant information — all come here,” he said. To spread awareness to rural areas, Janpath launched RTI on Wheels last year. Janpath has made RTI Act steadily come alive through the state. Anyone who needs to help with RTI, can call 99240 85000.

His organisation trains officials and helps spread awareness about the Right to Information Act across urban and rural areas in the state
We are even approached by officials who want to know what sort of information can be given out
- Harinesh Pandya, RTI activist (Janpath)

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