A critical Overview on Right to Information and Poverty Impact

1. A critical Overview on Right to Information and Poverty Impact Presentation includes: Conceptualizing RTI as a development tool Linkage between RTI and Poverty Reduction ( examples; Bangladesh rural context) MJF Experiences and Potential use of RTI law in addressing Poverty issues Recommendations in context of poverty impact

2. Conceptualizing RTI Concept as explained in different International Conventions: • Freedom of information is a fundamental human right and the touchstone for all rights • Right to Information enables citizens to seek information from duty holders and makes duty bearers responsible to disseminate important information proactively even if it is not asked for. Predominate perception about use of RTI in Bangladesh: • Media centric • Perception changed from media centric to development tools based on civil society movement and field based experiences

3. RTI and Poverty Impact Linkage between RTI and Poverty • RTI can be used as resource or strategy to address poverty issues • RTI can address various dimensions of poverty such as; income poverty, insecurity, social dimension of poverty( education and health), social menace leads to poverty, reducing potential risks of disaster etc. RTI and Poverty Impact linkage not well understood Demand side Problem • lack of understanding the importance of information in their daily lives; lack of understanding that information can be an added dimension for changing poor people sociopolitical and economic lives • lack of capacity of the poor to claim information from proper authority in a timely and correct manner. Supply side Problem • The poor are primarily seen as recipient of development and not considered as active agents • Poverty is mostly defined as income poverty; • Most interventions are targeted to economic initiatives and does not focus on participation aspect which empowers people to demand services as a right.

4. MJF Experiences: RTI and Poverty Impact Background Information • MJF support rights and governance initiatives in Bangladesh • Lesson learnt based on many interventions reveals that accessing information related to livelihood and other options can empower poor and marginalized people to claim their rights • It is a hurdle for most of the implementing agencies to ensure necessary information for poor and marginalized groups • Civil society led RTI movement starting from 2005

5. MJF supported Projects and Experiences Projects Experiences reveal that • Linking poor people to information sources on livelihood aspects such as agriculture, use of seed, fertilizer, pesticides, disease control mechanism of livestock, building houses etc. • Access to information contributed to improved education and to better health standards. • Access to information assists to optimize the use of local resources including labour in the planning, designing, implementation and maintenance of the rural infrastructure works. • Empowering people through legal information and other entitlements can assist to overcome social menace such as dowry, early marriage, polygamy etc. • Open budget dialogue sessions compels Union Parishad to disclose fiscal year budget publicly giving detail of expenditure and income sources with future plan Potential use of RTI Ordinance in Bangladesh • 100 days guaranteed rural employment scheme for 2 million people to address seasonal unemployment and other social safety net programme • Proper maintenance of land records and reducing land related corruption • Facilitate the process of reducing corruption, resource mis utilization and and system improvement

6. Recommendations Strategic interventions for using RTI law to address Poverty. • Mainstreaming RTI as an important component in all poverty alleviation programme • Mechanism, tools and methods of providing information considering poor people’s needs as they l are not one homogenous group, their diverse needs and interests are important. • Building pro poor institutions and people’s organizations to facilitate the process of equipping them with necessary information in relation to better livelihood options • Efficient info intermediary should be developed mandated to work at grassroots level catering for the information needs of poor people • NGOs and other development practitioners can get involved in RTI activism to contribute to enhance poor people’s information claiming rights and facilitate information provider to remove various barriers. Their whistle blower role is important here • Media both print and press can raise awareness of both public and public bodies on how information as an important resource can play a pivotal role to eradicate poverty.