Right to Information in India

Event: Making Access to Information a Meaningful Right: The Freedom of Information Program One Year On

Right to Information in India

05 December 2017

Author / Speaker:

Anjali Bhardwaj, National Campaign for People’s Right to Information, India - Other materials by the author

India has made strides in providing right to information since 2005. Read more about freedom of information in the country.

Anjali Bhardwaj shared India’s experience with its Right to Information Act (RTI) which has been in place for 12 years. Passed in 2005, it is demanded, owned, used, and protected by the people. The passage of the RTI into law came after strong movement from the citizens for legislation. Furthermore, demand for a central law grew as there were RTI laws in 9 states.

Working at the grassroots level, the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information, India found that people were interested only in information if it would help resolve problems they were faced with. Around 12.5% of requests for information come from people in the rural areas and all RTI applicants from the rural areas and half of those in the urban areas are below the poverty line. India receives around 4-6 million RTI applications annually about information on their basic rights and practices.

Geographical Focus:

India

Subregional- South Asia

Type of Content:

Learning Event

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