Launched with the aim of spreading awareness about the right to information, the van was used by over 80,000 citizens in 450 villages and 13 cities during this period.
The country’s first mobile RTI van completed one year on Tuesday. Launched with the aim of spreading awareness about the right to information, the van was used by over 80,000 citizens in 450 villages and 13 cities during this period.
This ‘Right to Information on Wheels’ initiative was launched jointly by Gujarat State Information Commission, Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration, Ahmedabad, Government of Gujarat and Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel.
The co-ordinator of Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel, Pankti Jog, said, “People do not have proper information on how to use their right to information. The ‘RTI on Wheel’ is our endeavour to reach out to people and spread awareness regarding using RTI as a tool.” She added that volunteers also help the public to draft applications for the information they are seeking.
This unique concept of ‘RTI on Wheels’ to reach out to people in remote areas and spread awareness among them about the right to information has also attracted neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Rajsthan, and is likely to be replicated there.
“It was difficult to organise awareness programmes at public places as it needed electricity, microphones, big screens and other electronic items. Along with it we needed a vehicle to travel to rural areas. This is how the idea of ‘RTI on Wheels’ was evolved,” said Jog.
Along with people seeking information from government departments, the government has also used ‘RTI on Wheels’ to spread awareness about certain schemes among the public. Apart from public places, the van visits various government offices such as collectorate, RTO office, Civil Hospital. “We show film on RTI to people and encourage them to use RTI as a tool for getting information they need,” Jog added.
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