RTI activist and people working in the different social fields across Maharashtra gathered to demand a comprehensive social accountability law in the state. The need for it was felt to better publicise government schemes, ensure intended beneficiaries are getting it, accountability and transparency in the process.
The demand was made at the meet 'State level consultation on initiating discussion on building discourse of demanding Comprehensive Social Accountability Act in Maharashtra' that was jointly organised by SATHI and state accountability resource unit (SARU) at the YMCA, Mumbai Central, on Monday. A book on the social accountability in public service, existing mechanism and way forward was also released.
The meet was attended by Rakshita Swamy who heads SARU, Nikhil Dey, senior activist Mazdoor Kishan Shakti Sanghatna (MKSS), Rajasthan, Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner, Brian Lobo, Dr. Nitin Jadhav, and Dr. Abhay Shukla from Sathi among others.
Swamy and Dey spoke about the community participation in social audit, law that passed in Meghalaya and one that is to come up in Rajasthan. They also spoke about the process and movement behind them. In Meghalaya, the social accountability law covers 18 districts and brings 26 schemes under social audit.
"Fight for information and accountability is of over 30 years. The Rajasthan government has announced Comprehensive Social Accountability law in the budget speech. Such a law needs to be there in all states," said Dey.
Dey also spoke about the sustained efforts of activist and people that have led to the Jan Soocha portal in Rajashtan that gives details of all schemes and beneficiaries. "RTI Act is violated the moment information is not provided suo motu as per RTI Act unless it is exempt under provisions of RTI Act," said Dey.
"The idea of the meet was to brainstorm and see how things are functioning in Maharashtra. Speakers from different fields came and mentioned about the existing mechanism and how it can be improved," said Shukla.
The organisers said that the feedback received stated that mechanism is not in place or not well functioning. "There is no social audit mechanism functioning in places where law has provided for. That is what we got from the feedback," said Jadhav.
Gandhi said that until social accountability law comes into place, existing laws should be looked at. "Till such time we do not have a social accountability law, we can ask for implementation through other laws like the ones that talks about clearing files in 45 days, RTI and others. If we are asking for implementation of law, they cannot say no to it," said Gandhi.
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