Delay in reconstituting the Information Commission is hindering transparency and accountability.
Citizens must first understand the law's myriad possibilities to use it effectively
In Bangladesh, those at the grassroots level with little knowledge about the intricacies of governance have found the RTI law useful and convenient.
The use of the RTI Act is not merely to focus on government work, but to operationalise good governance too.
In the last few months, we have received some very encouraging feedback from users of the RTI law about the Information Commission's work.
In a country with such a politically-oriented population, why has RTI not caught on?
Can public officials ever become transparent in their work and feel accountable to citizens?
Seeking information is not only a right of citizens, but also a civic duty.
The right to know doesn’t end with the existence of a law.
Yet the RTI Act is hardly known for being put to use in significant numbers. It has so far worked mainly with the marginalised and disadvantaged communities because of the help of NGOs and activists. The educated and the middle classes are yet to be fired by the powerful reach of the law.
