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Right To Information Cell ( RTI )
YASHADA, National Implementing Agency by DoPT, GoI The grass root experience and hands on both National and state RTI Acts, had always an edge over for YASHADA. In 2005, DoPT, GoI, declares YASHADA as National Implementing Agency along with CGG, Hyderabad. The Programme is funded by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for capacity building for access to information in 12 States, viz. Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, West Bengal and Uttaranchal. In addition to these States, the responsibility of conducting training programmes for the Central Government officers was also entrusted to YASHADA.
Training Programmmes as NIA Initially, as National Implementing Agency, training programmes under UNDP project were conducted at YASHADA’s own premises. However, as the awareness of the Act started increasing, it became necessary to develop the supply side - the Govt. side fast. The Govt. of India emphasized on finishing the target as early as possible and hence YASHADA took initiative in approaching various State Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs) and conducted training programmes at the Head Quarters of these states. The total target was training 920 persons (60 persons per state and 200 Central Government officers), out of which target of 841 candidates is met so far.
*RP : Number of Resource Persons trained.
Recently YASHADA has organized Training Programme for the Central GOI Officers between 23 - 27 April 2007 at Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi. Director General, YASHADA has written to 40 GOI Secretaries to send the participants. Joint Secretary, DOPT, Old JNU Campus, New Delhi has also made written request to all Govt. of India Departments to send their participants for the training specially organized by YASHADA at New Delhi.
In addition to responsibility of conducting TOT training of the 12 original States, the responsibility of 16 newly added States namely Punjab, Hariyana, Orissa, Bihar, Zharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Delhi & Goa has been entrusted to YASHADA. The Advisor, RTI, YASHADA has paid visit to Lucknow and discussed with Director General, ATI, Lucknow and others about training programme to be organized in Uttar Pradesh.
Special initiative has been taken by YASHADA to organize the meeting of North Eastern States at Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati, Assam on 15th May 2007 to discuss the details of the training programmmes to be organized in these States. A training Programme of 69 participants is fixed at Aizwal in Mizoram during23 - 25 May 2007. Yashada had fixed training programmes in Sikkim, Tripura and Manipur in June 2007 and in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya in July 2007.
YASHADA has formed Evaluation Teams to asses the impact of training given earlier under UNDP GOI assisted project "Capacity Building for Access to Information". The teams visited States of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal , Assam and Rajasthan. The report of the same submitted to DOPT, GOI, New Delhi.
State Project The Government of Maharashtra has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 1,06,00,000/- to train participants from 35 districts of Maharashtra and officers from various Directorates and Departments from State Secretariat. Yashada has trained =SUM(ABOVE) 12308 resource persons during the financial year 2006-2007.
* RP: Target Number of Resource persons.,
State Implementing Agency Training Programme
- Selected districts Chandrapur and Nandurbar Districts - Preliminary discussions held with Districts Administration - Planning for all the components viz – training, mass awareness, research and documentation, information audit, stakeholders workshop being planned in consultation with District Implementing Agency namely collectorates of respective Districts.
Training Plan
Initiative: 1. Prepared an Audio CD on R.T.I.Act with the help of Mumbai based NGO viz. Samarthan under Mass Awareness programme which contains songs 2. A booklet giving details/case studies in the matter of decisions by CIC Maharashtra on appeals preferred is under process which is proposed to be used as reading/training material in further workshops 3. The RTI Act is being translated in the colloquial languages of the Adivasis in Chandrapur and Nandurbar districts.
Accomplishing responsibility as SIA in the State On the orbit of training and capacity building for Access to Information, YASHADA has been nominated as State Implementing Agency (SIA) for the state of Maharashtra by DoPT, Government of India.
In Maharashtra, two districts were selected for capacity building for RTI. This task was something more than training the Government officers. Only training programmes or details and intricacies of the Act could not have been the focus in these districts because it was for total capacity building. Chandrapur and Nandurbar are that way underdeveloped districts in Maharashtra and if the model used in these districts is successful, then it can be used all over Maharashtra.
The methodology was different. In both these districts, Maharashtra's official language Marathi is generally understood, however, colloquial languages are different. In Chandrapur, ‘Zadi Boli’ is used and in Nandurbar, being the Adiwasi prominent area, 2-3 Adiwasi languages are in use.
YASHADA decided to take help of local artists in this regard. A creative workshop was arranged in YASHADA in July 2006 for about 30 artists from these 2 districts and from Pune. The motto was to discuss on various methods – ways to reach to the people in these areas and to know about their fairs and festivals to have a clear insight about their lifestyle and beliefs to make the penetration effective. Sessions were arranged for these artists to make them aware about the fundamentals of the Act. The thrust was on the 'message to be delivered.'
The results were fantastic. Street plays, Songs, Songadya scripts (local folk art in Nandurbar), puppet shows, posters, etc. were developed on sample basis. Ideas and experiences were shared from artists from all these different schools. This exercise for the same cause and from the same platform of YASHADA, enriched every participant in the workshop including YASHADA’s staff. This was a pioneering effort of using art and artists for building Awareness of an Act.
Using the material so created specially for the two districts, 7 training programmes were conducted covering 424 participants including Govt. officials as well as NGOs Media and social workers in the field of RTI.
Sponsored Programmmes
Various Government undertakings in Maharashtra have approached YASHADA to impart training to their officers. YASHADA has developed 1 or 2 days training modules for such departments considering their specific needs. Details of those sponsored training programmes undertaken so far are as under:
Publications on RTI
YASHADA is working for the Government as well as for common people for implementation and awareness of the RTI Act. Taking into consideration needs of both the segments, YASHADA has published a list of books, material for training programmes, ToT programmes, Articles both in English and Marathi on the subject. The list itself will explain the scope of the work that YASHADA has accomplished.
Books and Articles on RTI for all
1. Handbook on Right to Information (Marathi / English) 2. Template for the Publication under Sect. 4 of the RIT Act (Marathi / English) 3. Users’ Guide (Marathi / English) 4. Handbook on RTI with Tata Macgraw Hill, Delhi (English) 5. Handbook on RTI with Rajahans Prakashan, Pune (Marathi) 6. Table Calender 2007 (English) 7. Tila Tila Dar Ughad (Marathi Book based on Radio Programme) 8. Jansamvad (Marathi book containing script for street play, one act play etc.) 9. Diary of State Resource Persons. 10. Articles in various newspapers & magazines – 30 (Marathi / English)
Publications under UNDP withCentre for Good Governance,Hyderabad
1. A Manual for Public Authorities Information Officers & Appellate Authorities 2. The Right to Information Act 2005 : A guide for media 3. The Right to Information Act 2005 : A guide for Civil Society Organisation 4. Annual Report of Information Commission – A guide 5. A Handbook for Trainers. The Right to Information Act, 2005
REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE
Radio Programme The credit of broadcasting first serial radio programme goes to YASHADA. From January 2006, YASHADA has sponsored a 30 minutes radio programme from Aakashwani, Pune on Right to Information. Programme writing and technical support is given by YASHADA. 52 episodes have been broadcast and feed back tells that this programme is very popular. The time slot chosen is 7.16 to 7.46 am on every Saturday. Being it is just after the Morning News, it can not be skipped. Very simple language and focus on actual use of the Act by common man are the attributes to make the programme so popular. It is planned for 52 episodes.
In response to the inquiries to translate this programme into Hindi, YASHADA is now taking initiative to make script of this programme available in Hindi also which can reach countrywide.
Documentary Film on RTI Films Division, GoI has agreed to take out a film on RTI in 14 regional languages. YASHADA is actively associated with the production of this film and has provided the script for the film. Making of this film is in active process and may be ready within very short time..
National level activities · In September 2006, YASHADA organized a meet of RTI activists and people related to the RTI movement, to share their experiences of the first year of the Central RTI Act. This meeting was chaired by the CIC, Maharashtra State. · A list of requests regarding effective implementation of the RTI Act and suggestions on operational problems was submitted to the CIC and the State Government during this meet. · A National Convention on RTI was held at New Delhi between 13th and 15th October 2006, which was inaugurated at the hands of H.E. the President of India and concluded at the hands of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. · A stall was also erected by YASHADA for exhibiting its publications on RTI as well as YASHADA's efforts made so far to create mass awareness through Electronic and Print Media. YASHADA’s contribution on RTI training was appreciated by one and all. · A workshop of 12 original States and newly added States was organized at YASHADA, Pune under the chairmanship of Shri Ajay Sawhney, IAS, Joint Secretary, DOPT between 13 - 14 Feb 2007 to take review of RTI activities in 12 original States and apprise the newly added States about RTI activities to be undertaken in these States.
Support Activities · National Institute for Open School (NIOS), New Delhi has requested YASHADA to work as content provider for developing curriculum for Open Schools throughout the country for traditional courses, regular courses and correspondence courses. · YASHADA has prepared Users’ Guide as per section 26(3) of the RTI Act at the instance of the Jt. Secretary, DoPT, Govt. of India. The work of finalization of Users’ Guide and its translation in various regional languages is in progress. · Since Feb 2007, we have been organizing "Video Conferencing" for officers from Maharashtra, on every Thursday to clarify their doubts on RTI Act. · The special feature of the YASHADA is RTI workshop for Citizens, which is held on 2nd Saturday of every month. The response is phenomenal and every Saturday about 50 - 70 participants take part in this programme.
Future Plans · YASHADA is planning to start an RTI Newsletter, which will be circulated to various ATIs and other stakeholders. · For various TV channels, 5 television programmmes on RTI have been planned Thus, with full faith in success of the RTI Act, YASHADA is performing its responsibility of capacity building for access to information and working as a common platform for the demand and supply side with confidence.
Initiatives
Dissemination Activities
1] It was Yashada’s first step in North East for dissemination of RTI in those States.Further Training Programmes and dissemination activities are being planned for North Eastern Region and seeking funds for the same.
2] Weekly programme over All India Radio is already being broadcast already Hindi translation of the episodes being broadcast on the Akashwani Programme is in process. A meeting of experts in this field is convened on 8th Septmber 2006. This would help to take up the programme at national level progress, which may be broadcast at national level.
3] RTI Act-2005 - A Primer, on RTI is published by McGrawHill in August’06 authored by Yashada. The book will be sold nationally & internationally. Rajhans Prakashan published Marathi book on RTI authored by Yashada. Its sale has crossed 10,000 copies in a period of six months.
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