Saga of
Struggle of an RTI Activist against Corruption in Odisha
Struggle of an RTI Activist against Corruption in Odisha
( His fight against corruption has exposed failure of
Grievance Redressal Mechanism in the state )
Grievance Redressal Mechanism in the state )
Dear
friends
friends
Rumours consciously designed and spread by few miscreants that RTI
Activists are misusing RTI and using it to blackmail others in the name of
seeking information. This is a false
allegation to demoralise RTI Activist
and negate their outstanding work in public domain. We have countered it and
dared them to file complaint against those involved in blackmailing to
appropriate authority. As per findings
of a National Study on RTI popularly
known as RaAG Study,
less than one percent of people are filling vexatious RTI Application
which can be termed misuse of RTI. Under RTI Act, there is scope for anybody to blackmail others.
Activists are misusing RTI and using it to blackmail others in the name of
seeking information. This is a false
allegation to demoralise RTI Activist
and negate their outstanding work in public domain. We have countered it and
dared them to file complaint against those involved in blackmailing to
appropriate authority. As per findings
of a National Study on RTI popularly
known as RaAG Study,
less than one percent of people are filling vexatious RTI Application
which can be termed misuse of RTI. Under RTI Act, there is scope for anybody to blackmail others.
On the other hand, it is seen that many RTI
Activists are using RTI to expose
corruption at different level and fighting it out at cost of their live and
helped common people to get their entitlements denied by Govt. officials. Many
RTI Activists have been murdered, humiliated, mercilessly beaten up and put
behind bar because of their fight against corruption.
Activists are using RTI to expose
corruption at different level and fighting it out at cost of their live and
helped common people to get their entitlements denied by Govt. officials. Many
RTI Activists have been murdered, humiliated, mercilessly beaten up and put
behind bar because of their fight against corruption.
I cite here an example
about struggle of an RTI Activist Sri Akbar Saha
of Balasore, his fight against corruption in Basta Block and
his endless suffering, humiliation and mental torture. Sequence of events centring around his
struggle is as follows.
about struggle of an RTI Activist Sri Akbar Saha
of Balasore, his fight against corruption in Basta Block and
his endless suffering, humiliation and mental torture. Sequence of events centring around his
struggle is as follows.
|
15.8. 2016
|
He filed RTI
Application to the PIO, office of BDO, Basta Block of Balasore district seeking information about details of beneficiaries of Biju Pucca Yojana of Raghunath Pur Gram Panchayat. Huge corruption and irregularities is noticed in the distribution of houses under Biju Pucca Gruha Yojana. |
|
15.9.16
|
Finding
denial of information, he filed first appeal to First Appellate Authority-cum-BDO to get the information. |
|
17.9.16
|
He received a
call from Sri Gobind Sethy, Sub-Divisional Police Officer who threatened him “ why is he filling RTI against Govt. officials” |
|
18.9.16
|
He filed complaint to DG Police against SDPO and local police for harassing him.
|
|
15.12.16
|
Acting on
his complaint, DG, Police wrote a letter to SP, Balasore to enquire into complaint and take appropriate legal action against them. |
|
21.12.16
|
Though late, BDO, Basta block supplied information list of beneficiaries under Biju Pucca
Yojana. Verifying the documents, it was found that many ineligible persons have taken houses by preparing false documents in connivance with Block officials. |
|
26.12.16
|
He filed
complaint to Collector, Balasore to enquire into matter and take action against the culprits. It was registered as dairy No. 10014/26.12.16. The Collector immediately ordered to BDO to enquire into allegation. |
|
15.3.2017
|
A false enquiry report was prepared by Assistant
Executive Engineer and presented to BDO, Basta which was shared to Complainant . |
|
27.3.17
|
He filed
petition to Chief Minister Grievance Cell |
|
28.3.17
|
Akbar met to
Collector appraising him how a false enquiry report has been prepared by BDO while presenting details of factual information about beneficiaries. |
|
31.3. 17
|
Chief Minister Office directed to Collector, Balasore to enquire into the matter.
|
|
24.4.17
|
On receipt of complaint, Collector, Balasore
transferred the same to BDO, Basta for enquiry. Nothing happened. |
|
25.4.17
|
Chief Secretary transferred his grievance petition to Dept. of Panchayat Raj which again transferred to BDO and Project Director, DRDA for enquiry.
Nothing happened |
|
26.4.17
|
The Block
officials with police hatched a ploy against Akbar to arrest him. They filed a false FIR in Singla police station to arrest him. Bimal Kumar Nayak, Inspector-in-Charge masterminded the false FIR. He was charged with false case of misbehaving a woman. |
|
12.6.17
|
Being harassed by
officials, and local police time and again, Akbar filed a complaint case in the court of SDJM . The court issued order to Singla police to register case and enquire into the matter. But the IIC, Singla police station registered the case on 22.9.17. |
|
14.7.17
|
The Inspector-in-Charge
, Singla Police station called him to police station. When he reached, Dharmanand Behera, BDO and Gobind sethy, SDPO reached in police station and asked him to withdraw allegation of corruption on Biju Pucca Gruha Yojana. Akbar refused to withdraw the case. Then, the case was registered and Akbar was forwarded to jail. |
|
16.9.17
|
After
spending two months in jail, he got released on bail. |
|
|
Akbar is still fighting against corruption and
running from pillar to post to get justice. Though he approached several office starting from Chief Minsiter office to Block office, nothing happened. This is state of affairs of Odisha administration. This is glaring example of failure of administrative system of the state to deliver justice to common people. |
Akbar Saha can be contacted
in his mobile for more
information. M- 9439550806
in his mobile for more
information. M- 9439550806
Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date- 16.11.17
