Dr Asangba Tzudir
Replacing the former Freedom of Information Act 2002, the Right to Information Act was passed in the year 2005 by an act of the Parliament of India setting out the rules and procedures regarding citizens’ Right to Information. The provision being, any citizen of India may request information from a “Public authority” which is a body of government or “instrumentality of state” and which is to be relied expeditiously or within thirty days.
In Nagaland, it is only some years now since RTI as a right and a tool to access information has become popular with the coming of RTI activists and its related activism. Things seemed ‘smooth’ at least in the open until recently the news being circulated in the social media of a man being “forced” to apologise and withdraw the RTI he filed. Without going into the details of the events leading to the apology, what came as a surprise was a summon call letter being issued to the ‘man’ by the Village Council Chairman Union (VCCU), Jalukie Valley, and which was quickly followed by a letter asking apology for “blindly seeking Information under Right to Information Act” and also pledging to withdraw the RTI Application at the Rural Development Directorate in Kohima.
Though the claim of the man that he was harassed and forced to sign two papers – one blank and a handwritten note, was refuted by the VCCU, Jalukie Valley and that he was only called to “discuss”, what is also interesting is that during the supposed ‘discussion’ the man reportedly claimed that someone else had filed the RTI application under his name while also claiming that he was instigated from others. But why would he claim that someone else had filed the application under his name? While these are only based on reports and could be even further away from the truth.
However, what is appalling is that, the issue just fizzled out from the public domain without making much fuss. An issue which concerns a very crucial Right of citizens is being allowed to pass off. This was also attested by the fact that this issue did not generate discussion enough to take the matter to some logical level of discussion. Was it for fear of being summoned for ‘discussion’ that discouraged passing views and opinions? Or is it the case that there is something fishy about RTI ‘activism’ in Nagaland that people in general does not find it interesting or worthwhile? Or is it the case that the truth is revealing and therefore dangerous and thereby needs to be hidden in the so called ‘larger interest’ whereby ‘filing RTI’ would amount to risks of suspension of fund flow?
However, especially in the context of development related works in Nagaland, one way to keep a check on such matters is through RTI. The citizens as right bearers also needs to be conscious of the emerging trend where someone is being ‘summoned’ and made to apologize for filing RTI. RTI activism should only grow in Nagaland considering the circumstances, but that, it should be in the larger interest of everyone in the real sense of the term, and not for any means to an end objective or palm greasing or scratching each other’s back. RTI as a right of the citizens and as a movement should grow in Nagaland for the right reasons and which will also enable an environment where RTI activism can grow without fear.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
