Memorial on the RTI struggle unveiled in Beawar: People lay claim to their Right to Information
The memorial, dedicated to the RTI, perhaps one of its kind in the entire country
Citizens from all walks of life come together to commemorate the historic dharna for RTI organised by the MKSS in 1996
26.05.2016
Beawar (Ajmer Dist., Rajasthan)
“I can never forget those forty days when we sat on a dharna here at Chang Gate. I was documenting every moment of that dharna through my camera without a clue that we were making history and I was destined to document it,” said Ashok Sain, a well-known photographer and activist from Beawar. Ashok was not the only one who was busy reminiscing the dharna organised by Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) in April-May 1996 demanding a Right to Information (RTI) law when something like this was unheard of. Joining him on Thursday were hundreds of citizens from Beawar and nearby areas who had all gathered here on the occasion of the unveiling ceremony of a memorial dedicated to the Right to Information, perhaps the only of its kind in the entire country.
It is worth noting that MKSS, a collective of peasants and labourers, headquartered in a nondescript village in Rajsamand district, had been waging struggles for peoples’ rights related with land, minimum wages, forest rights, etc. since it came into existence in 1990. Starting from 6th April 1996, the Sangathan organised a dharna at Chang Gate in Beawar. The dharna lasted for forty days and to use eminent journalist Kuldip Nayar’s words ‘became the trigger that later went on to become a peoples’ movement for transparency, accountability and participatory democracy in the country’.
The 1996 dharna was seminal as it not only forced the Rajasthan government to pass the Rajasthan Right to Information Act, 2000 but also led to the formation of the National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information (NCPRI), a national movement which compelled the national government to enact the Right to Information Act in 2005.
On Thursday, amidst songs of solidarity and reminiscence of memories, a memorial dedicated to this struggle and the Right to Information was unveiled by Mr. Justice S. N. Bhargava, the former Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court. Shankar Singh Rawat (Member of the Legislative Assembly), Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Beawar Nagar Parishad, D.L. Tripathi and Anant Bhatnagar from the Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and several eminent citizens of Beawar were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Kavita Srivastava of the PUCL, who was one of the participants of the dharna throughout the forty days, said, “Everybody became a part of our dharna. Be it the vegetable vendors who provided free vegetables to us or the owners of the dharmshala who gave us rooms or the traders who supported us wholeheartedly or the lawyers and journalists who stood by us. It was as if the entire city had become our family and a patron to our cause.”
Prominent socio-political activist and one of the founders of the MKSS, Aruna Roy said, “India’s Right to Information law is unique as it was brought to pass by poor peasants, farmers and labourers and not by politicians, academics, journalists or the intelligentsia.” Highlighting the attempts to dilute the Right to Information by successive governments and attacks on those using RTI to unearth corruption and wrongdoing, she said that it has become more important today to prolong our efforts at protecting and strengthening this significant right as it is the crucial link between the citizens and those who govern us. She said that the RTI is the only law that is owned by the people of the country and more than sixty lakh RTI applications that are received by public authorities across the country bear testimony to this fact.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest of the occasion and former Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court, Justice S. N. Bhargava said, “I really regret not being a part of the dharna and the (later) movement back then as I was working in Sikkim and elsewhere during that period. I do realise that I have really missed a historic opportunity, but now I want to do everything in my capacity to further this movement for transparency, accountability and participatory democracy.” He said that it was befitting and a matter of pride for the city of Beawar that such a memorial has been constructed here that will give inspiration to millions in the country to fight for their rights.
Apart from the many people who attended the event, messages from several others who came and supported the 1996 dharna and the RTI movement were also read out during the celebrations. “...I still remember my visit to the dharna. The spark that was started by the dharna has turned into a national movement for transparency in governance. Right to Information is not only useful for a certain section of society but for every person of the society. It is a right that keeps the Constitution and its values alive...” read the statement from Kuldip Nayar, veteran journalist, author and human rights activist.
A message from Prof. V. S. Vyas, former director of the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur, read - “...The Right to Information is a sign of the maturity of the Indian democracy. Through their collective struggles for this important right, citizens of India have shown their commitment to democratic values.”
Former judge of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice V. S. Dave also sent a message that said, “...I am always with you...to fight for the cause of teeming millions who dread the dawn and the dusk as they are far away from having basic needs and to be termed as 'We, The People of India' enjoying right to live with dignity. I wish the function all success and assure my solidarity for the noble cause...”
It is ironic that on one hand the people of Beawar (and Rajasthan) take pride in their struggle that led to the evolution of the RTI law in the country, on the other hand, portions that mention the evolution of the Right to Information in India and contribution of the MKSS and other organisations and individuals, have recently been removed from the Rajasthan State Board text-books. A resolution was passed by all those present to demand the restoring of the RTI and contribution of the people of Beawar and Rajasthan in the Rajasthan State Board text-books.
Pictures -
1. The Memorial at Chang Gate.
2. Citizens of Beawar gathered during the occasion.
3. and 4. - Justice S.N. Bhargava, Aruna Roy, Kavita Srivastava and others present on the occasion.
5. Justice S.N. Bhargava giving his presidential address.
(Courtesy Source - Press News Release from MKSS Rajasthan)
