The Weekly Observer, Issue 19

Observer The weekly

Tuesday, December 17 , 2013

VOL 13 ISSUE 19

Lack of awareness among citizens about Right to Information.

More than 23Lakh cases pending against auto-rickshaw drivers.

State fails to fund rehabilitation of Bangalore beggars.

PAGE 4 & 5

PAGE 7

PAGE 8

Cleaning up crores EXCLUSIVE Rahul Sadhu & Pranay Lakshminarasimhan A company earning Rs. 35 lakh a month to clean up three city wards has been neglecting its duties for the last six months, according to angry locals.

Vincent, a resident of Kengeri and a prominent RTI activist, filed an RTI earlier this year enquiring into the amount being paid to BVG India, the company responsible for providing waste management services to three city wards; Ullalu, Kengeri and Hemmigepura.

According to records obtained, BVG has been paid around Rs. 35 lakh per month for the last six months to provide services like sweeping roads, cleaning drains, performing door-to-door waste collections.

But according to Vincent, the company has remained inactive ever since it signed the agreement with the respective ward committees six months ago – and the garbage is piling up.

Today (Tuesday) 500 workers protested outside the company HQ. ey waved banners and demanded action from company bosses, claiming they had not been paid for three months. Nobody from BVG was prepared to comment, despite repeated requests from Observer reporters.

Nagaraj, the health inspector in charge at Ullalu, said: “is isn’t our fault. Neither is it the contractor’s. e amount of the current tender is lesser than the previous one and therefore isn’t enough. e contractor cannot do the job with the currently allocated amount.” e agreement also reveals that there is a clause in it, under which the contractor can be penalized for neglect of duty if more than 25 residents of each ward register complaints about the lack of services provided.

However, Vincent said that despite having filed a complaint with Shrikandi Gowda, Executive Engineer of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike

Vincent, RTI activist (le) and Prasanna Shastri, Senior Vice President, BVG India

(BBMP), no action has been taken as yet.

He added: “is is the fault of the Executive Engineer who signed the agreement. He should have known better than to approve a proposal where he knew the amount wouldn’t be enough to carry out the required activities.”

Shrikandi Gowda, Executive Engineer at BBMP, said: “is is not my fault. It is the job of the health inspectors in the areas to get the work done by the contractor. e decision to approve this tender was taken by higher authorities and wasn’t in my hands.”

R. Anjanappa, BJP Corporator of the Kengeri ward, acknowledged the issue by saying that this is a problem that has been plaguing the residents of his ward for quite some time. settlement regarding this issue will be reached within a week.

However, if the problem persists beyond that time, we will organize protests across all 198 wards in Bangalore till our demands are met,” he added. (continued on page 3)

e Weekly Observer

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

2

‘Somewhere, somebody is making money out of RTI in obnoxious ways’- RTI activist Prutha Bhosle

contenders for the management

local administration body for this

Vikram, aer applying to be a

stead, I offered to compile the infor-

According to prominent RTI ac-

committee in the Muzrai depart-

purpose. Vikram and his wife,

member of the management com-

mation. Till date, I have written

tivist Vikram Simha, the govern-

ment.

Bhanu, had applied for committee

mittee in Muzrai Department, was

seven books on RTI for free in both Kannada and English.”

A Muzrai department deals with

members’ posts in the Venkatesh-

asked to visit the police station for

running the Hindu temples in the

wara Temple near Bangalore Med-

verification. He said, “ere is no

Few of Vikram’s popular books in-

Vikram,59, played a key role in

country. For this, the government

ical College and Ramalingeshwara

guide as such to meet an officer at

clude “Right to Information: Gate-

the formation of the RTI Act of

pays the purohits (priests) and

Temple in Chamrajpet, respectively.

the police station. Instead the law

way to good governance and Right

2005. He is one of the pioneers in

other servicemen for taking care of

e couple was confident of

suggests that police officials come

to Information: Trend Ahead”.

promoting the act and disseminat-

the temples. In turn they look aer

meeting the eligibility requirements

to the applicant’s home for the

ing it to the villages of the country.

the administration of the temples.

and hence kept a tab on the status

process of verification.

ment adopts unethical methods to deny RTI-based information.

Vikram is also one of the

Every temple in the country has a

of their applications.

Vikram added, “I still asked one

‘CIVIC’, a non-profit organization, has sponsored 1000 copies of these books in the state.

However, to their surprise, neither

of my friends, who is an advocate,

“I believe that the RTI is a very

of them was appointed to the com-

to file an RTI to understand the se-

good act for both transparency and

mittee. Instead, they believe that the

lection process but the information

accountability. erefore, it should

candidates were chosen on behest

was denied.”

be utilized by all the citizens of the

of the core members.

Vikram said, “Aer 66 years of in-

country,” he added.

Vikram said, “In most temples,

dependence, this is the first good

Vikram refuses to call himself an

the servicemen demand money

thing that has happened to our

activist. He has till date filed 200-

from the worshippers which goes

country. When the RTI came to

250 RTI’s. He believes in making

directly into their pockets. At Ba-

India, it was freedom of informa-

India a corruption-free country. He

nashankari Temple, devotees offer

tion. Yet, today we see this power

said, “I have been on the forefront

silk sarees each worth Rs 20-25000.

being misused by many in the sys-

for most demonstrations, so people

Half of these sarees are not ac-

tem itself.” Vikram was an agricul-

know me by now. ere are ab-

counted for and some are auctioned

tural consultant and a banker

solutely no threats to my life. I have

without any notification to the gov-

before joining the movement led by

infact exposed the murder of one of

ernment.

Arvind Kejriwal for the formation

the activists named Narayan.”

e purohits explain the fall of

of the RTI.

Vikram believes in changing the

haldi (turmeric) reason for the

He said, “When we first began,

system by being a watchdog and

damage of these sarees behind

many members backed out and few

not by direct political interactions.

sending them for auctioning. is

stayed. Aer five years of struggle

He said, “I congratulated my friend

is why I aimed to enter into this and

when the RTI came into being in

Arvind on his success for the Delhi

clean the system but they didn’t let

2005, Arvind and my comrades in-

and Rajasthan elections 2013. Yet, I

me, aer learning that I am an RTI

sisted that I write a guide on the

will stick to my principles and

activist.”

RTI. I refrained from doing so. In-

never join politics actively.”

RTI activist, Vikram Simha, a contender for Muzrai Department

RTI should be included in school syllabus: RTI Activist Anagha Sawant e Right to Information Act (RTI) is “like a missile”, according to Anand.S, an activist from the Anti Corruption Forum in Bangalore.

Speaking exclusively to the Observer, he said: “People should know how, when and where to launch it.”

According to the RTI activist, there is an increase in the percentage of the people who know about the RTI Act. He added: “People these days are aware of

the Right to Information Act. But the problem is that they don’t know how to apply or where to apply. ere is a lack of information among the people about the procedure of the Act. ” He said: “ere should be a chapter in the school syllabus regarding RTI so that children know about the RTI Act and have knowledge about how to use it correctly.”

He added: “e major corruption according to me is in the education system, but no one

actually files RTI applications regarding problems in the education system. ere are very few RTI’s filed in the area of the education system. “e major areas against which RTI is filed in the state of Karnataka are mainly police, illegal construction of buildings and revenue problems.” e RTI activist files two to three RTI applications every day.

“I started working as an RTI activist in 2004. Until now I have filed over 700 RTI applications

which are mostly related to the legal aspect in the public authorities’ bodies such as BBMP and BDA,” he added.

“

There should be a chapter in the school syllabus regarding Right to Information so that children know about the RTI Act and have knowledge about how to use it correctly.

-RTI activist Anand S.

e Weekly Observer

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

3

City cleaners demand overdue wages Continued from Page 1

He added that despite repeated

allow them to get away with this.”

“Not a single worker from BVG

complaints, the garbage collected in

Venkatesh, an employee of BVG,

has entered our area in the last six

these plots has also not been

speaking on behalf of Prasanna

months. I have started conducting

cleared for more than year now.

Shastri, angrily said: "If we aren't

daily surveys in the area to make

Vincent, who has now started ap-

doing our job we shouldn't be get-

sure that the matter doesn’t get

pealing to other residents to speak

ting money from the BBMP. If they

out of hand,” he said.

out on the issue, said, “35 lakhs

are still paying us then they aren't fools for doing so."

Basavaraj, who has been living in

times six months isn’t a small

Kengeri for the last six years, said:

amount of money. It is our money;

In addition to this, BVG has not

“I am not even aware of such an

yours and mine and every other

paid more than 200 workers their

arrangement between our ward and

taxpayer’s. Imagine that kind of

wages for the last three months.

this company. We are used to clear-

money being paid to someone

Today’s protest, which was the

ing our own garbage and are forced

every month for not doing any-

third of its kind, was held in collab-

to use empty plots of land to dump

thing. Something must be done

oration with the Dalit Sangharsh

M. Muniraju, 56, State Leader,

were paid. “e BBMP Commis-

it.”

about this fast. We simply cannot

Samiti exactly opposite the BVG of-

DSS Samtawada, said that the same

sioner has said that a settlement re-

fice in Vasanth Nagar.

thing had happened earlier with an-

garding this issue will be reached

Veerabhadra Gowda, 42, Banga-

other company and that many peo-

within a week. However, if the

lore District Vice President, DSS

ple had not been paid for months

problem persists beyond that time,

Samtawada, said: “ese people

on end. According to him, it was

we will organize protests across all

have been working for BVG for the

only aer widespread protests and

198 wards in Bangalore.”

last one year. Earlier they were paid

hunger strikes that the workers

Garabage piled up in an empty plot in Kengeri for over six months

Rs 12,500 per month but they haven’t been paid anything in the last three months.” He added that

Workers protesting opposite the office of BVG India Ltd.

“

e BBMP Commissioner has

said that a settlement regarding this

the workers are now demanding

issue will be reached within a week.

that their wages be revised to Rs

- M. Muniraju, State Leader DSS

26,000.

Blind families accused of fake benefits claims Apurva Venkat Blind people who were not at home during

sion scheme due to which they stopped giving out the pension.

Vani is 80% blind which means that she could see only for 2-3 hours a day when the

Gupteshwar added, “ I know these people.

sunlight is bright enough and was a resident

I have seen the certificate they have been is-

of Rajaji Nagar before she got married and

Gupteshwar, an RTI activist, got this infor-

sued by doctors stating they are 100% blind.

shied to her husband’s place.

mation from Karnataka Health and Family

I don’t understand the logic behind stopping

She was receiving her disability pension be-

Welfare Department. He said that there are

pension because they found some beneficiar-

fore the marriage at her Rajaji Nagar resi-

almost 200 blind people he knows who are

ies were fake. Regular inspection take care of

dence but stopped receiving it thereaer even

not getting the disability pension.

this problem. “

though she had applied for a change in ad-

surprise government inspections had their benefits cancelled.

He added that the pension was stopped

Gupteshwar filled another RTI seeking in-

more than a year back. ey are supposed to

formation on who conducts the inspection

Vani said: “ I have written various letters re-

get Rs. 500- 1000 depending on the level of

and what is the method followed as well as

questing for the change in address. is was

disability.

when it was last conducted.

never done, though every time they promised

dress with the concerned authorities.

He said, “I was approached by around 50

To this he got a reply saying the officials

people wanting to join the India against cor-

who conducted the inspection found the

She added, “One day an inspection was con-

ruption campaign. I came to know from

doors of beneficiaries locked and assumed

ducted at my Rajiji Nagar residence. ey

them that they were not receiving their pen-

that they were fake.

found out I have shied. ey termed me a

sion which they are entitled to. I decided to file an RTI and find out.”

Gupteshwar said that there are blind people working in STD booths far away from their

e reply he got from the department was

place of residence, informing them in prior

that there were a lot of fake beneficiaries

about inspection would help them be at

availing the benefits under the disability pen-

home.

and gave me dates for doing the needful.”

fake beneficiary since I didn’t stay there. Ever since I have not got my pension.”

Vani is a mother of two and the pension means a lot to her.

A blind lady at the RTI campaign

4

e Daily Observer

Citizens unaware of the Anand Jain

man, said: “It is a very powerful

fective watchdog only if there is

When 100 people in the city were

weapon. But most of us don’t use

proper awareness. It is a right that

asked about the Right to Infor-

such things. We are always on so-

every citizen is entitled to. But

mation (RTI) Act, very few peo-

cial media.”

most of the people are ignorant

ple knew what it was and only one person had actually filed one.

Among students, there was an

about this right of theirs.

imbalance. None of those inter-

It is important for citizens to

e Right to Information Act was

viewed had an idea about the act.

know where the RTI can be used.

passed in 2005. It is your right to

Atul Madhusudan, a B.Com stu-

Raj, who filed an RTI for the pri-

seek information about the govern-

dent said: “Yes, it’s Reserve some-

vate sector, said: “We try, but it is

ment’s expenditure, income, poli-

thing something, right?” Another

pointless. I didn’t get a reply. Such

cies, or anything that concerns you

student, Hitesh, 18, said: “I know

things don’t materialize.”

and your society.

about RTO, never heard of RTI.”

e survey set a mood of inquis-

All information on public author-

Interestingly, most of them were

itiveness among the interviewees

ities can be sought through the Act.

curious to know more. “I know

about the RTI. It encouraged stu-

Officals must respond within 30

what RTI is, but can you tell me

dents, engineers and the retired to

days.

how to file it?” a 26-year-old IT

discuss the act.

Although this is an extremely

person asked.

Atul Madhusudan, the B.Com

powerful tool which holds every

Another young boy confirmed: “I

student, called back to say: “I just

public servant – yes, even the

know what RTI is, but can we file it

learned that the act is about gain-

Prime Minister – accountable, not

for private companies?” As with

ing information on government

many seem to be aware of it.

the adults, most students were keen

funding, and their work. If I write

e Weekly Observer inter-

on understanding the RTI. Kun-

a letter asking any information

viewed 100 Bangaloreans from var-

dan, a C.A. student said: “Could

about any government depart-

ious

you please tell me about it? I’d like

ment, I would get a reply within 30

to know.”

days. anks...”

streams:

graduates,

businessmen, home-makers,

plumbers, electricians, students, and IT sector workers.

Just one of the 100 had filed an RTI. “I did in a group, with my

It involved people of all ages,

friends,” the businessman said. He

from students in 10th grade to re-

added: “I’ll surely try to inform

tired individuals. Interviewees

people about this, and tell them

were graded from 0 to 5 based on

everything I know.”

how well they knew their rights.

It was found that a majority of the

We found that 72 of the 100 could

senior citizens interviewed were

not say what ‘RTI’ stands for. ey

pessimistic about the act. Satya-

were either wrong, or unsure. One

narayana, 70, said: “People don’t

of them guessed: “Isn’t it Road

have the patience to go through the

Transport of India?” To these 72

formalities. ey should open of-

people, the RTI act was alien in all

fices like Bangalore One. It should

its senses. One of them tried to

be a single-window operation.

guess: “It’s something where we can

Only then it can help.”

file complaints?”

Going by occupation, the IT in-

One-fourth of the Bangaloreans,

dustry was relatively better in

however, had a fair idea. at is,

terms of RTI knowledge. Unem-

they scored between 3 and 4. ey

ployed graduates came next.

seemed to know what RTI means and where it can be used.

However, in totality, the RTI knowledge among Bangaloreans

“Since we are the tax payers, it’s

was found to be poor. While a few

the government’s duty to give us

of them promised to Google the

any information we want,” said Raj,

act, others did not bother.

a programmer. Nisar, a business-

RTI can evolve into being an ef-

An

Pus ‘get RTI from Gup the i If a RTI hav the

T

1. M 2. I per 3. T 4. I tion 5. U rep

Tuesday, December 17 2013

5

eir right to information See, people don’t have the patience to go through the formalitites in an RTI. They should open offices like Bangalore One. It should be a single window operation. what do you think?

I know about RTO and not RTI

nswers for people who do not file RTIs

spendra Rana, a young RTI activist in Bangalore, said; “ere is a website called tup4change’ which helps RTI activists and provides them support. Members of this website file Is for each other from different destinations. A person from Delhi files RTI to seek information m Bangalore on behalf of the Bangalore RTI activist. ese ensure our safety.” pteshwar, an RTI activist said: “ RTI is like a wish fulfilment. It was the wish of the people that government fulfilled by creating the act. However, they do not want people to use it effectively. is is the very reason that awareness of the act is so less and people do not know how to file an RTI. awareness increases, more people will file RTIs” I activist, Ganesh, said: “People are scared to use the RTI. ey feel they will be attacked. ere ve already been cases of attacks and murders of RTI activists. If activists get proper protection n there would be more people filing RTIs.”

Tips given by RTI activists:

Make sure that you address the correct department in the RTI application f there is a question that you feel involves risk, file the RTI in a group. Doing so will ensure no rson would be attacked.

Take an update of the RTI within a week of it being filed. f there is specific information being sought, you need to file two RTIs. First with general quesns and second one with sterner and specific questions.

Use RTI as a tool not only to get information but also to make your work happen. Question RTI lies also.

Is it Road Transport of India?

Yes, It is Reserve something something.

e Weekly Observer

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

6

‘It is like a game of chess’: Reddy Sneha Bengani

call," he added.

lieved that too many questions had

In a national survey on RTI

He thinks of it as playing a game

(Right to Information) response

of chess. "You have to make your

Reddy, who has filed 500 RTIs,

times, it was found that 99 per

move only aer considering what it

has been lucky to get the informa-

cent of Public Information Offi-

would result to. inking about

tion he wanted in most cases. "ey

cers spend less than three hours a

how they would react is important."

give you the general information. It

week working on RTI related

Vikram Simha, 59, an RTI re-

is the controversial ones that are

source person of Karnataka, recog-

difficult to get. One needs to persevere," he said.

queries.

already been asked.”

e people working closely with

nized by the Central Government,

the Act say that since its enforce-

said, "e officers on the supply

It took him one and a half years to

ment in 2005, the government has

side resort to uncanny ways to pre-

get all the data he needed on farmer

failed to provide adequate infra-

vent you from getting the informa-

suicides at state level.

structure to empower people with

tion you want.

the “Right to Information.”

"I received documents from all

“Out of hundreds of applications

the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh

ey agree that there is a dearth

that they receive every day, proper

over that period. At times, you get

of funds and that officials are not

responses are sent to only one or

a lot of documents which bury you

equipped or informed enough to

two who know how to work around

with unsolicited information. ey

provide appropriate and timely an-

all the obstacles. he added.

do all kinds of stuff to prevent you

swers.

"Most of the people in charge of

from getting what you want," he

Rakesh Reddy, who said getting an RTI response can take time

Rakesh Reddy, 30, an RTI activist

responding to the applications are

living in Hyderabad, believes that

not trained properly. ey are

Naga Sravan Kilaru, a student ac-

filing an RTI is not a big act in itself.

taught to use every permutation

tivist of RV College of Engineering,

"Following it up takes the real time.

and combination to prevent you

Bangalore, once got over 20 docu-

He finds it useful to go and dis-

media or higher officials. Lastly,

You have to be prepared for a long

from getting the desired informa-

ments "that did not even have the

cuss the information he finds

you can use the information for ad-

tion,” he added.

answer" he wanted for a query he

through RTI with some other offi-

vocacy purposes," he adds.

had filed.

cer of the same department.

According to Simha, the officers

tical data, that I file an RTI," said Kilaru.

"Second, you can follow corruption and bring it to the notice of the

He is of the belief that the act is

use elections as an excuse to pre-

Lately, he has resorted to talking

Reddy believes that any man can

designed to help both citizens and

vent disclosure of information.

directly to the officials. "It is much

use the information received

the government. "While it helps cit-

"During polls, the employees in

easier and better. You get what you

through RTI in three ways. "First,

izens know better, it helps the ad-

charge of RTI have refused to give

want without having to wait for 30

general services get processed.

ministration get more organized."

information citing that they have

days.

When your query concerns dis-

All three agree to the fact that it is

It is only when I do not believe

rupted utilities, the concerned au-

only with experience that one gets

"In one case, they refused to an-

the information given by the offi-

thority will make sure that it is fixed

to write the questions that fetch the

swer aer a point, since they be-

cials or when I need detailed statis-

before sending you a response.

required information.

election duties.”

RTI activist Vikram Simha

said.

Activist says people blackmail officials and make money through RTI Saikat Ghosh e Right to Information (RTI) Act has introduced some transparency but it also has a flipside.

T Ramu, 60, an RTI activist and also the general secretary at Vijaynagara Nagarika Vedike, feels that an official’s attitude plays a huge role in fetching information through RTI. “e Public Information Officers must change their mindset towards RTI. ey think that we are asking for secret documents through the RTI query,” he said.

In those cases the activist has no option but to knock the door of

the Lokayukta, the state anti-corruption watchdog.

He also said that the information seekers need to learn how to file an RTI query. “We had to educate the applicants. ey must also ask for all the resources available in a CD or the available documents.”

In 2011, the Supreme Court in its decision ruled out giving personal information through RTI. “Now you cannot know the cost of the jewellery worn by an officer’s wife,” said Satish K, 52, an RTI activist.

He also added that RTI is still not used in many rural areas be-

cause of lack of awareness.

“Arvind Kejriwal went to many villages in Rajasthan to spread awareness among them,” he said.He also said RTI has now become a way of blackmailing officials.

RTI activist Veeresh Bellur “Some people blackmail the offi-

cials and make unnecessary money out of it. If you want to trouble any officer, this is the tool.” he added.

An applicant, whose RTI query is refused can appeal to the State Information Commission (SIC) and then to the Central Information Commission (CIC).

An engineer turned activist, Raju Venkatesh Prasanna, feels the second appeal causes inconvenience to the applicant.

“If you stay in Bangalore and file an RTI regarding an issue in Kolkata, then during the second appeal you have to be present physically in Kolkata” he said.

Vincent George, 58, another RTI activist, said that states like Karnataka don’t have a first appeal rule, which is mandatory according to the RTI act.

Veeresh Bellur, 60, an RTI activist, said that the biggest low is the way the data is kept.

He said, “e RTI act was brought out with a good intention, but the data is processed very badly.”

Raju Venkatesh Prasanna said the state of RTI activism is poor in the northern parts of the country. “If you file an RTI against the government in Bihar they will hit you le and right.”

e Weekly Observer

Tuesday December 17, 2013

7

23 lakh cases pending against city auto drivers parking in restricted areas and

saying they couldn’t prove the case,”

flouting traffic signal rules for reg-

said Rudra Murthy.

istering such cases.

say these rickshaw drivers.

Says Rudra Murthy: “Old people

Tirupati, another driver, has 42

take time to get down. In the mean

ey go on to say that traffic con-

cases registered on his rickshaw.

time the police arrive and charge

stables are given a target each day,

According to him, due to his inabil-

fines for parking in a no parking

as a result of which they register

ity to pay Rs 4,200 as a fine all the

area. At such times we cannot argue

fake cases against drivers in order

cases are still pending against him.

against them. We have to pay the

to complete their day’s target. Ac-

Commenting on this, he said, “I

fine. e police exploit us.”

cording to the figures, around 2,721

have been driving my auto-rick-

Yaqbal, who drives in Rajajinagar,

cases are registered every day in the

shaw for 20 years now. Whenever I

saID: “I was asked to drop a passen-

39 traffic police stations in the city.

stop my auto to get change, the traf-

ger at the BTM bus stand. While

e pictures clicked by the traffic

fic cops charge me with fines for al-

the passenger got out of the rick-

cops are sent to the automation

legedly parking in no-parking

shaw, the police caught hold of me

centers, and aer a period of ten to

areas. If I argue then they register

and asked me to pay a fine of Rs.100

fieen days a notice is sent to the

cases against me.”

for parking in a no-parking zone. I

rickshaw driver. ey are asked to

Ratna, a female auto rickshaw

refused on the spot. I then went

pay a spot fine ranging from Rs.100

driver and a member of ARDU

along with the Union to the ACP,

to Rs.500.

says: “I have been driving this auto

DCP, Commissioner of Police and

e total amount collected by

for the last eight years and it is my

the Traffic Control department.

traffic police officials as spot fines in

only lifeline. Everyone says that

ey did not verify my documents

Auto-drivers in the city claim traffic cops are filing fake cases

the city over a period of 29 months

auto drivers are bad. But when we

and asked me to pay Rs.7000 when

Suchitra Sharma & Sushmita Sen

or 227 cases over a 12-hour period.

is Rs.1, 37, 09,200. e court fine

have any problems neither the gov-

Aer filing an RTI in order to ob-

amount, Rs. 24, 15, 900, however, is

ernment nor the police, nor the

Auto rickshaw drivers claim traf-

tain details regarding the reasons

significantly less.

ministry comes to help. We only

fic police officers are filing fake

behind the large number of cases

e drivers say that they can’t re-

ask our union for help, we have

cases against them in a bid to hit

that have been registered, the Auto

fuse the fine or else the officials

unity in our union.” She pays Rs.

crime targets.

Rickshaw Drivers Union alleged

threaten them by saying they have

24,020 as insurance for her vehicle.

that traffic police file cases against

older cases registered against them.

Another type of case that is com-

According to RTI findings more than 23 lakh cases against auto rick-

them without their knowledge.

In a case registered in Upparpet,

monly registered is drinking and

shaw drivers are pending with the

According to Rudra Murthy, Gen-

an auto rickshaw driver was asked

driving. When drivers are returning

local authorities. Between January

eral Secretary of the ARDU, “ey

for a fine of Rs.6000. Since he didn’t

home aer their day’s work, the po-

1, 2010 and May 31, 2013, 23,

click pictures of our number plates

have the amount he paid Rs.4000

lice catch hold of them on the pre-

66,607 cases have been registered

when we halt for our passengers

instead. His documents were seized

text of drunken driving.

against city based auto rickshaw

and register cases without our

and a demand of Rs.2000 was made

When the police fail to hit their

the case was to be contested.”

drivers.

knowledge.”

in order to get the documents back.

given target of collecting fines for a

B.Dayanand, Traffic police Deputy

Rudra Murthy, auto union leader

at equates to 113 cases booked

e auto rickshaw drivers say that

“I filed a case with the help of

particular day, they start to fine ve-

Commissioner, refused to com-

every hour of every day in the city,

the traffic cops cite reasons such as

Lokayukta. e court dismissed it

hicles that are parked outside bars,

ment on the issue.

State Information Commission crippled by lack of personnel Vaishnavi J.Desai & Shweta Nair

the Chief Information Commissioner.

appeals is 15,000 as of now. “ Vincent, RTI activist said: “e

e state information commis-

Shekhar D.Sajjanar, Information

present information commissioners

sion is unable to function effi-

Commissioner said: “It’s a policy

have to do their work properly

ciently as more than half of its

matter. e Government has de-

without adjourning the cases and

seats are lying vacant.

layed in appointing the officers and

appeals. If this can be executed

Aer the recent retirement of J.S.

filling up the vacant posts. is va-

properly, then there won’t be any

Virupakshaiah, six out of the eleven

cancy can lead to the delay in giving

necessity to fill the seats. e Infor-

seats in the Karnataka Information

out information to the public.”

mation Commissioners have to

Commission are lying vacant.

He added, “e work load on four

hear more cases every day.”

Lack of staff at State Information Commission is causing delays

According to the recommenda-

commissioners and the Chief Infor-

He also said that there are just 5

tions of the Right to Information

mation Commissioner has in-

government employees in the In-

Act, the Information Commission

creased. ere are five independent

formation commissioner’s office

is supposed to comprise of 11 infor-

benches and we hear 20 to 30 cases

and that the remaining 95, who are

sometimes

mation commissioners including

every day. e number of pending

outsourced,

months. It’s of no use if information

are

paid

meager

salaries.

is to be received in 2015 for appeals

Vincent said: “e appeals are adjourned

for

six

that are filed now. e procedure for the first appeal is also wrong. is adds to the delay.”

e Weekly Observer

Tuesday, December 17 , 2013

8

State failure to fund poor leaves begging bowls empty

look at the status of beggary cess

According to Venkatachalapathy,

collection but only a few responses

Deputy Commissioner (Revenue),

were received. e Panchayats that

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Pa-

sent the information said that no

like, they collect tax in form of

such amount has been transferred

property tax and tax from goods re-

to the Central Relief Fund.

ceived and dispatched and three

Santosh said that it has been

percent of it is supposed to be

months and the amount collected

transferred to the Central Relief

as tax has still not been transferred

Committee. “We are making an ef-

and no action has been taken.

fort to streamline the system, it

He added that the callousness of officials affects the relief system and

Beggars at the Nirashritharu Parihara Kendra suffering due to BBMP’s failure to fund them

in turn the rehabilitation process

Aurosmita Acharya

under the Karnataka Prohibition of

BBMP to release funds in regular

remains static.

A 30 crore annual payment to the

Beggary (KPB) Act, 1975.

intervals. e BBMP releases a bulk

ceived is insufficient for the rehabilitation of the beggars in Bangalore.

government shall ensure that the

amount is not sufficient to sustain

trict, no village Panchayat collected

ere are almost 13 such centers all

Beggary Cess(tax) is collected and

the rehabilitation process.”

the beggary cess. It added that

over Karnataka and that such vio-

many panchayats seemed unaware

lations have been taking place since

of any such provision.

the last 30 years.

cials to hurry up.

amount

irregularly.

But

e BBMP is collecting taxes

deposited by the local authorities

Rashtrotthan Sankalp produced

from everyone in Karnataka for the

without fail and delays. e tax that

an audit report in the year 2010

“rehabilitation of the destitute” but

is collected will be used for the re-

concluding that local bodies were

hardly any of the money has found

lief and rehabilitation of beggars or

neither collecting tax properly nor

its way to the various colonies

destitute in the state.

depositing them to the central relief

A three per cent tax on property,

fund as required by law. As a result,

Activists working with beggars in

bringing goods to local area, sale of

beggary relief has suffered and citi-

the state have filed a series of RTI

goods, vehicles, purchase of goods,

zens have been cheated.

Act queries which are routinely ig-

trade and employment is kept aside

From facts emerging from the

nored by officials, who declined to

as funding to help the rehabilitation

audit, it is evident that successive

comment when contacted by the

of the beggars or destitute. ree

governments and the Central Relief

Observer.

paise of every rupee is transferred

Committee (CRC), as constituted

to the Central Relief Fund.

from time to time, have failed in

was issued to sort out the collection

Commenting on the tax collec-

performing their duties towards

of taxes from local bodies for the

tion from the local bodies, Ra-

beggary relief both in letter and

rehabilitation of the destitute, the

janaik, Secretary of Central Relief

spirit, according to the activist.

Committee of Nirashritharu Pari-

Santosh P. Nargund, a Right to In-

Rashtrotthan Sankalp had filed a

hara Kendra (NPK) said, “We have

formation Activist said, “Rs 30

Public Interest Litigation (PIL)

not yet received the revenue that is

crore is supposed to be collected

which was addressed by the Kar-

to come from the local bodies in

every year. Around 220 local bod-

nataka High Court on April 3,

form of taxes that have been col-

ies and even the panchayats who

2013. A time limit of three months

lected.”

are supposed to collect tax do not

was given by the High Court to the

NPK is the body that trains beg-

BBMP to rectify the failures of the

gars and helps them become self-

Beggary Relief System in the state

sufficient and earn a livelihood in

and provide true relief and rehabil-

the mainstream.

itation to the beggars or destitute

Santosh said that the funding re-

e audit report states that except

despite a court order telling offi-

order still stands ignored.

was unavailable for comment.

for a few panchayats in Kodagu dis-

According to the judgment, the

Nine months aer a court order

e Central Relief Committee

this

state’s beggars is not being paid –

around the city.

needs more time,” he said.

Rajanaik said, “We request the

transfer the amount to the Beggary Fund.”

An RTI was filed by the Rashotthan Sankalp to a number of village Panchayats of Karnataka to have a

Response to RTI applications filed by Rashtraothan Sankalpa

e Weekly Observer

9

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

‘Bangalore is not safe but it is still safer than Delhi’ Ishan Bhattacharya & Raju Peethala

areas.”

He added that crime in Bangalore is not in-

It has been one year and one day since the

creasing but police is becoming more effi-

brutal Delhi gang rape case united Indians

cient. Every case is being reported now and

in protest but the transport minister of

the police in Bangalore are doing a good job. e Commissioner of Police, Raghavendra

Karnataka believes nothing has changed.

Ramalinga Reddy, the Transport Minister

Auradkar, said that Bangalore is the first city

of Karnataka, said, “Rapes have been going

in India to sensitize the police when it comes

on for thousands of years. ere were so

to crimes against women and this process

many protests aer the Nirbhaya rape case.

was started back in the year 2010.

Did anything change aer that?

K J George, Ramalinga Reddy, Raghavendra

“ere are more than 6500 buses in Banga-

Auradkar were present at the launch of an

lore. We have already installed CCTV cam-

elders helpline extension service centre at

eras in 500 buses. is is to ensure that

Home Minister KJ George, who joined outspoken RamalingaReddy on the visit

Basavanagudi Police Station. is elder

women are safe when they travel at night.”

crime against women have been reported in

K J George, Home Minister said, “We need

helpline is a joint project of the Bangalore city

He added, “Some rape cases get too much

Bangalore. e total number includes 382

cooperation of the public to help keep

police and Nightingales Medical Trust (an

importance and are hyped and then it ap-

victims of marital violence, 163 extra marital,

women safe. We also need help and coopera-

NGO). City mayor, B.S.Sathyanarayana, said

pears that Bangalore is not safe. But it is still

33 pre marital, 214 dowry harassment, 151

tion from NGOs and other such organiza-

“I feel very happy with the recent develop-

safer than Delhi.”

women became victims of their alcoholic

tions to fight crime. ere are a lot of

ments in the city and hopefully the crime rate

husbands and 38 other cases.

government policies to help women in rural

in the city will decrease gradually.”

Between 2012 and June 2013, 981 cases of

Green tax woes of rickshaw drivers Fake police racket Sushmita Sen & Suchitra Sharma

to get the information.

e city auto-rickshaw union’s attempt at seeking in-

On asking the RTI Commissioner, the reasons for not

formation regarding the Green Tax failed due to the

receiving a reply from all the RTOs, they were told that

alleged attitude of officials.

the RTI officers did not have the proper information.

busted by city cops Shweta Nair

them red-handed in the act.”

Two con men were booked by

Byatarayanapura police have regis-

Auto rickshaw drivers in the city are mandatorily sup-

“I said that I will file a case on these RTI officials but

Central Crime Branch for posing

tered 14 cases against the gang

posed to pay a Green Tax once their auto rickshaws

the Commissioner said that would not cause any prob-

as police officers and cheating

which

have completed seven years. According to the rickshaw

lem to them,” said Rudra Murthy, General Secretary of

people in the city.

crimes like stealing, chain-snatch-

drivers, this money would go into funding environ-

ARDU.

e accused, Sameer Sayeed, 26,

ing and burglary across India. In

previously

committed

mental plans for the city. However, seeing no such

e rickshaw drivers complain that the taxes col-

and Asadullah Jaffery alias Kalia,

Bangalore, they have been accused

progress on the environmental front, the Auto Rick-

lected out of them are more than what they earn and

30, were arrested on December 4,

of being active in Rajarajeshwari

shaw Drivers Union(ARDU) decided to file an RTI, en-

are therefore not able to make a proper living.

2013.

Nagar, Vijaynagar, Chandra Layout,

quiring into the amount collected. e RTI was filed to the Commissioner of Transport who then forwarded it to the various RTOs in the city.

“is is the reason auto drivers resort to wrong meth-

A source at Central Crime Branch

Basaveshwar Nagar, Mahalakshmi

ods or start side businesses,” says Chandrashekhar, an

said: “e gang dressed up like po-

Layout, JC Nagar and RT Nagar.

auto rickshaw driver and a member of the ARDU.

lice men and stole motorcycles and

e investigation was carried out

e RTI asked for statistics between January 1, 2010

Rudra Murthy went on to say that the money col-

400 grams of gold jewellery. We

by Central Crime Branch with the

and May 31,2013. Out of the ten RTOs in the city, only

lected is all spent on the Green Month , which is No-

have arrested two of them but five

help of Bangalore City and Tumkur

four replied, stating amounts such as Rs.28, 28,200 in

vember, when the students are taken for a procession

escaped from the spot. We caught

City Police.

Rajajinagar RTO, Rs.6, 84,140 in Jnanabharti RTO and

or a rally. More fines are collected and all the money

Rs.60, 000 in Electronic City RTO. e RTO at Indi-

collected is spent on such events.

ranagar had asked them to pay a fine of Rs.2 in order

“

I said that I will file a case on these RTI officials but the Commissioner said that would not cause any problem to them.

- Rudra Murthy, General Secretary of ARDU e Iranian thieves caught by Central Crime Branch police

e Weekly Observer

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

RTI whistleblowers brave it all Neha Singh & Sneha Ghosh

and told them about the circular is-

Activists who seek change in the

which commands protection for

state must also be prepared to face

RTI users/activists, the circular was

abuse and even death, according

thrown in my face and I was grilled

to those whose passion for the

instead for filing RTIs against the

truth outweighs their personal

police department,” he said.

10

Events FESTIVALS

sued by the police department

Christmas Caroling

According to him, as the cops

Bring in the festive cheer as the tal-

As the Public Interest Disclosure

have conspired with criminals, they

ented choir from e Cheshire

and Protection to Persons Making

have booked no cases. Instead, he

the Disclosures Bill, 2010 awaits a

says, the entire Karnataka police

clearance in parliament, RTI ac-

force is up against him for filing

awareness through his RTI peti-

work that has been done by PWD

When: 23 Dec- 24 Dec

tivists across the nation brave re-

RTIs.

tions. “I successfully fought for the

and BBMP,” he adds.

Where: e Oberoi, MG Road

safety concerns.

peated threats and attacks.

Home for Girls spread the spirit of

e broken latch of the entrance door of Prasanna’s home.

joy with popular Christmas carols.

He has been attacked several

restoration of the Bangalore Metro-

According to Ramu, his friend,

During the four years that Ban-

times in a year, especially aer spot

politan Task Force (BMTF) despite

Mr. Lingaraju, a retired employee of

galore Raju Venkatesh Prasanna

inspections at crime scene locations

the involvement of several VVIPs

the Canara Bank, and an RTI Ac-

alias Rakesh has been filing RTI ap-

by government law enforcing au-

such as the ex-Law Minister Suresh

tivist from Chickpete was mur-

plications, he has consistently faced

thorities. He added, “As a result of

Kumar and other ministers.”

dered in November, 2010 because

threats to his life. According to him

several attacks, the doors and win-

He added, “e government was

he has also become the target of

dows of my house have been bro-

about to shut down the BMTF in

“My friend had filed RTI applica-

false criminal cases filed by the po-

ken.”

order to protect influential people.”

tions questioning the illegal prop-

lice and those against whom he has filed RTIs. “When I went to higher officials,

ARTS

of his petitions.

But there have been instances

Prasanna was openly threatened

where Prasanna has managed to

by a panel of BBMP advocates in

corporator and their partner. ey

bring about a change and raise

the Court yesterday. According to

had increased their assets greatly

him, "One of them claimed that he

ever since attaining the post. A

Group Show

will get me arrested."

group of rowdies killed him in front

Paintings on display will be by Di-

He said, “e Honourable Addi-

of his house and his wife”, said

nesh Chendal, Sneha Changroth

tional Chief Metropolitan Magis-

Venkatesh Babu, friend of Mr. Lin-

and S.R.Vales.

trate Court passed the judgement

garaju.

When: 11 AM - 7 PM, 17 Decem-

acquired

by

a

local

ber onwards

in my favor and has stated that the

He added, “It was 6:30 in the

criminal case filed against me is a

morning and he was washing his

Where: Renaissance Gallerie, Cun-

‘counter blast’.”

car. ey killed him right there with

ningham Road

According to Ramu T, another

his wife watching.”

city-based RTI activist who has

Vincent, who works at the Kar-

probed a lot into public land en-

nataka RTI Federation, feels that

croaching by politicians and real es-

the situation will change once the

tate agents, “I have received several

Whistleblower’s Bill gets approved

threats time and again. I have been

in the parliament. He said, “We are

working on land grabbing cases and

trying to get it through, especially

have been bringing it to govern-

section 4 of the Bill.

ment’s attention.

given the ruling which asks for only

work against us. ey reveal our

the postal address of the person

addresses and contact numbers to

who has filed the RTI. His personal

real estate agents exert their influence through MLAs. While investigating these issues we have unearthed a lot of sub-standard

MUSIC

“e Karnataka High Court has

“In some cases even the engineers

politicians and MLAs. A number of

Big boulders thrown at Prasanna, the RTI Activist’s house.

erties

Pentagram

Led by Vishal Dadlani Pentagram details, which in many cases help is the country’s premier electropeople to track him down, need not rock bands! be revealed. is should provide When: 20 December some protection to RTI activists,” Where: Opus, Palace Orchards Contact: 9008303330 he said.

Observer Team: Editor–Shweta Nair Chief Sub Editor–Sneha Mejari News Editors– Bhaskar Dutta, Pranay Lakshminarasimhan, GauravKumar, Tanisha Das Gupta, Anannya Sarkar , Sneha Bengani Sub Editors– Nikita Narvekar, Aurosmita Acharya, Suchitra Sharma, Tulana Nayak, Prutha Bhosle Picture Editor– Mayuri J. Ravi, Sreelakshmy Sivaram Design Desk– Anand Jain, Sushmita Sen, Anagha Sawant Reporters– Apurva Venkat, Neha Singh, Bhavika Bhuwalka, Rahul Sadhu, Ishan Bhattacharya, Raju Peethala, Soumya Basu Emergency Call Services- Vaishnavi J. Desai , Saikat Ghosh, Karishma Ravindran, Nibedita Mohanta Proof Readers- Shivpriya Jodha, Chitarth Mathivan, Sneha Ghosh, Sureshkumar Email- editor@iijnm.org An IIJNM Publication (For Private Circulation)