Empowering people through RTI

Sukumari Hembram is the newly elected lady Sarapanch of the Sankhua Gram panchayat of Saharapada block, Keonjhar. Her village is 8 kms away from the block headquarters. She knew that the government made it mandatory to have one tube well in each gram panchayat and they did install a tube well in 18 gram panchyats in her block but not at Sankhua. She raised the matter of this negligence at the meeting of panchayat Samiti but no action was taken by the concern authority.

After some days, Sukumari attended a RTI training programme conducted by CYSD PLAN Project at Kapundi. The trainers spoke about RTI and how it can help in situations like Sukumari’s.  Sukumari then filed a petition before the Assistant Block Development Officer of  Saharapada block. However, both the BDO and the Public Information Officer (PIO) discarded her petition saying that it was vague and not factual. She shared her experience with CYSD staff and having seen her commitment they advised her to file a petition again. She met with BDO and in detail, presented her case.  BDO assured her of action.

At  the next panchayat Samiti meeting, in front of all the 19 Sarpanch the BDO asked for an explanantion from the relevant Engineer. He warned those responsible to install a tubewell in Sankhua village within a deadlinbe or to be penalized and punished by  the State Commissioner of RTI.

A tubewell was installed within 5 days of the meeting! Now Sukumari encourages the people of her village to attend RTI training camps arranged by CYSD to receive justice towards developmental work.