Political Leadership

1. Role of Public Authority& Political Leadership in Successful Implementationof RTIOctober 13th, 2009Jagadananda State Information Commissioner, Orissasic@ori.nic.in

2. Political Leadership

3. Political Will “I believe that the passage of this Bill will see the dawn of a new era in our processes of governance, an era of performance and efficiency, an era which will ensure that benefits of growth flow to all sections of our people, an era which will eliminate the scourge of corruption, an era which will bring the common man’s concern to the heart of all processes of governance, an era which will truly fulfill the hopes of the founding fathers of our Republic.” Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India Speech in Parliament on May 11, 2005.

4. Political Will “Access to Information as a tool to tackle corruption would form one of the priority items on my agenda.” Vincente Fox President of Mexico 2000 “A democracy requires accountability, and accountability requires transparency. The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails.” BarackObama President of USA and Nobel Laureate 2009

5. Right message And timeless. . . “The real Swaraj will come not by the acquisition of authority by a few but by the acquisition of capacity by all to resist authority when abused.” Mahatma Gandhi

6. Role of Political Leaders Implementing a successful information regime demands leadership, resources and political will for transparency and accountability. It needs political role models who are: • convinced that the Right to Information is a human right • desire to rebuild citizens’ trust • committed to improving efficiency and modernization of the systems

7. Role of Political Leaders • Opinion makers: political leaders are ‘mass mobilisers’ and can promote RTI as a tool that brings tangible results on the ground • Legislative overview: e.g. leveraging legislative forums and lobbying for implementation of RTI in its true spirit • Role models: demonstrating transparency through inviting social audit of use of MPLAD and MLALAD funds

8. Public Authority

9. Transform the relationship with the public Current relationship • Public Authority Members of the public Emerging relationship Public Information Officers Public Authority Members of the public

10. Comply with proactive disclosure • Information belongs to the public, not to the Government or any public institutions • Informing citizens increases their trust and helps strengthen partnership with the people • Open information regime enables nimble and local vigilance systems

11. Setting PA to succeed… “Equally important [to enacting a law] is to establish an institutional framework and developing public administration capacity to manage and provide information”Atlanta Declaration, April 2008, Carter Center To increase efficiency and reduce pressure on PA requires: • Additional resources • Norms and standards reviewed and revised • Training and sensitization • IT enabled databases, and e-governance • Streamlined procedures and clear guidelines/templates • Balance incentives and penalties

12. Who is accountable?Sharing responsibilities • “Demand” side • Activecivic engagement • Use of Act forpublic interest for greater accountability • “Supply” side • Self-disclosure • Information management • Timely response • Independent adjudicatory role

13. Realities on the groundand opportunities We have an opportunity to alleviate poverty and reduce corruption through empowering the citizen to become active: • Set up RTI ‘clinics’ and leverage local volunteers • Citizens Assistance Centres, with special features for disabled • Organisation of information fairs • Education material in local language disseminated via local communication vehicles (posters, wall paintings, folk art, radio…) • Collaborate with CBOs/NGOs, RTI activists, relevant CSR initiatives to provide hands-on support

14. THANK YOU!