Arvind Kejriwal  has been in Orissa since 11th November. It has been a great opportunity for me to spend some time with him as he has gone about his engagements here.

Yesterday, we spent most of the day together in a workshop organised by the Orissa Soochana Adhikar Manch - which is a forum of NGOs and activists working on RTI related issues. It was an interesting coincidence that this event was organised on the eve of the State Information Commission completing 2 years in existence. The Manch in collaboration with Parivartan and supported by the government had carried out awareness and training camps on RTI in all district headquarters and other major towns of Orissa last year, which had resulted in the filing of several thousands of RTI applications. It also helped bring together activists all over the state who have been using RTI as well as promoting its use in the community. Yesterday was an occasion to share the progress of the RTI movement of the state with activists coming from many parts of the state.