Yaha kya ho raha hai: Students gather outside the RTI vehicle and ask questions regarding the Act. pic/kaumudi.gurjar

AFTER spreading the message in Gujarat, the Right to Information on Wheels rolled out in Pune on Saturday spreading awareness among the people about their rights under the Act.

Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP), RTI-on-Wheels is a vehicle exclusively designed to create awareness, as well as help the common man understand and effectively make use of this.

Well-equipped

The vehicle is equipped with an LCD projector, screen, computer with an Internet connection, copier and a small library. It is manned by volunteers who screen films on RTI, distribute pamphlets, hold public discussions on the Act, and help people file applications seeking information.

RTI on the wheels visited Saluke Vihar, Kondhva, and Maharashtra Vidyalaya in Sadashiv Peth yesterday.
Ganesh Kachare, a student of Maharashtra Vidyalaya was given a live demo, when he asked why his village Kusarpeth, Taluk Velha in Pune District is devoid of fundamental needs like drinking water and electricity and also learned how to file an RTI application.

An important Act

Speaking about the strength of the act, Major General (Retd) S C N Jatar said, "Although RTI is one important pillar for good governance, bureaucracy and judiciary need reforms. A citizen applies for right to information. On the acquired information it is necessary that bureaucracy should act to rectify the system, and if any loopholes appear then the culprit should be prosecuted. But considering the overburdened judiciary it will take another ten years to get the justice.

Besides, there is no political will to reform bureaucracy and judiciary. And for attaining good governance it is a must."

Pankti Jog of MGAP told MiD DAY, "The vehicle is so designed by National Institute of Design, graduate Amit Paul to drive it in narrow alleys and pack up can be manned by just two volunteers. Since March this year we connected with 80,000 people across 10 districts in Gujarat."

We want to spread the knowledge of RTI amongst general public, we earlier invited them to our office, but we thought it is better to go to themselves to spread the knowledge of RTI, so we decided to roll RTI on wheels from places to places," said B G Deshmukh chairman PCGT.