'Stress on transparency at all levels of governance

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JULY 2. The need for transparency and accountability in governance right from the lowest-level (that of the local body) to the highest-level (the Central Government), was underscored by eminent social rights activist and Magsaysay Award winner, Ms. Aruna Roy.

A founder member of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, a grassroot-level people's movement for social change in Rajasthan, she was in the city on Monday to deliver the 6th Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture, at a function organised by the Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Trust to mark his anniversary.

In what was basically a narrative of the Sangathan's activities and experiences over the past decade, Ms. Roy explained why the right to information was required and how it could be used as a tool to get the poorer sections of the people their basic rights.

The right to information, Ms. Roy said was by itself a right that enabled people to fight for other rights concerning land, employment, minimum wages, women's equality and the like. The Right to Information Campaign, which started as a mountain stream in a little place called Beawar near Udaipur in Rajasthan in 1996, was now a river flowing fast and wide, she said.

Without mincing words, she explained how the nexus between politicians and bureaucrats could be used for development and regretted that as of now, the nexus was only being misused for mutual gain. "Behind every politician are a dozen bureaucrats. We all know that", she asserted.

Speaking of how the people in Rajasthan were reeling under the harsh effects of drought for the past three years, she wondered at the paradox. While the godowns of the Food Corporation of India's were bursting at their seams, the people did not have grain to eat. The Government would rather let the grain rot than ensure it went to the poor through the public distribution system, she said, wondering why ration shops were being closed.

The Chairman of the Trust, Prof. Ch. Hanumantha Rao presided over the gathering that comprised intellectuals and people from all walks of life, specially those who had known late Prof. Ram Reddy.

Before proposing a vote of thanks, human rights activist and Secretary of the Trust, Prof. G. Haragopal said that it was imperative that the middle classes fully support the poor in helping them get the right to information and improve their lot. Ms. Jyothi, daughter of the late Prof. Ram Reddy, spoke.

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