Question

Read the passage below:

Nannu is a daily wage earner. He lives in Welcome Mazdoor Colony, a slum habitation in East Delhi. He lost his ration card and applied for a duplicate one in January 2004. He made several rounds to the local Food & Civil Supplies office for the next three months. But the clerks and officials would not even look at him, leave alone do his job or bother to tell him the status of his application. Ultimately, he filed an application under the Right to Information Act asking for the daily progress made on his application, names of the officials, who were supposed to act on his application and what action would be taken against these officials for their inaction. Within a week of filing application under the Right to Information Act, he was visited by an inspector from the Food Department, who informed him that the card had been made and he could collect it from the office. When Nannu went to collect his card next day, he was given a very warm treatment by the Food & Supply Officer (FSO), who is the head of a Circle. The FSO offered him tea and requested him to withdraw his application under the Right to Information, since his work had already been done.

What does Nannu’s example show? What impact did Nannu’s action have on officials? Ask your parents their experiences when they approach government officials to attend to their problems.

Answer 1

1. Nannu’s example shows that regular people need to be informed of their rights. They should utilise their rights without fear, as Nannu has done.
2. Nannu’s actions have a significant effect on the officials who not only prepared his ration card but also offered him a cup of tea at the Food and Supply Officer’s office. He received proper respect. However, the Food and Supply Officer recommended that he withdraw his application because his ration card had already been prepared.
3. My parents had the same negative experience when they went to the electrical department. People’s requests are not taken seriously by government officials. The situation is far worse for the poor and disadvantaged. But with the adoption of the Right to Information, things would change. The government departments will perform more efficiently and transparently.