‘Information is oxygen of democracy’

India is a good model for mass mobilisation, says Charlotte Young, project manager of Freedom for Information Project, History of Archive, South Africa, who is in the country to study the process of implementation of Right to Information. She shares her views and findings in a chat with DNA.

What has brought you to India?
I am here to study the implementation process of Right to Information Act. In South Africa, there is an act called Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) that was enforced in 2000 to provide information to people. My job is to simplify PAIA and bridge the gap between government and public along with carrying out capacity building programmes for organisations working for community. Moreover, India is a good model for mass mobilisation. I shall visit various NGOs, such as Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel, PCGT in Mumbai and NCPRI in New Delhi. The aim of my visit is to set up a network that connects my organisation SAHA with the NGOs working on right to information in India.

How do you find the concept of ‘RTI on Wheels’?
This is really a fantastic idea and the best way to reach out to people. Like India, majority of people in South Africa live in rural areas. Though the two countries do not have identical society, their issues are the same. We are looking forward to replicate the model in South Africa as this will enable us to reach the public. Moreover, some information which cannot be made available to public via internet can be made available.

What are the similarities and differences between India and South Africa so far as the right to information is concerned?
In both the countries, there are people who do not realise that seeking information is their right. However, in South Africa, we need to change the mindset of people as they think that asking questions to government or authority is disloyalty. Rural and poor people think that laws are meant only for elite class and not for them. However, I am visiting India for a month to find out various methods used for reaching out to people to spread awareness as information is oxygen of democracy.