Dear Tulika,
Greetings from North East Network!

NEN is a grassroots women's organisation working for last eleven years
in 4 states of the northeast region of India. As you are aware that
NEN activities are focused on the issues of Health, Livelihood and
Natural Resource Management, Peace Building and Human Rights.

With the legislation of the Right to Information Act 2005, we at NEN
knew the   enormous implications it has, if used in a systematically
through the region. Indeed, it could be a useful tool to fight
corruption, violation of human rights and stir laid-back officers of
the state from inertia to some degree of pro-activeness. Clearly we
are talking of accountability and transparency in governance.
NEN's activism on RTI began in the year 2004 where a systematic
planning of getting people across the board was the main agenda. The
work started through the translation of the Assam RTI Act in different
local languages and screening of RTI related films to participants
during NEN's various workshops. NEN facilitated its partner groups to
attend a National Convention on RTI organized by National Campaign for
People's Right to Information (NCPRI) in Delhi from October 8 to 10
2004. This involvement encouraged them to look deeper into the RTI
movement.
In the next phase of its activism on RTI, NEN members went to Delhi to
learn more about RTI and attended an international workshop in May
2005 and also visited various NGOs that have been working on RTI in
Delhi and Masdoor Kissan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) in Rajasthan.
Dialogues took place between NEN and individuals belonging to various
organizations in Assam and it was then that NEN decided to hold a
North East Regional level workshop on RTI to learn, share and engage
in the "movement building" of this important Act.
The two day Regional level workshop on RTI Act 2005, was held on
August 23 and 24 2005 at Guwahati, Assam. The Commonwealth Human
Rights Initiative (CHRI) conducted the workshop and was attended by
participants from six northeastern states. The main objective of the
workshop was to familiarize and educate activists like ourselves about
the provisions of this law and plan an advocacy strategy that would
make the Government implement the RTI Act in the entire region. NEN
took the lead in to submit memorandums to all the Chief Ministers and
Chief Secretaries of the north eastern states for the proper
implementation of the Act in the States.
Presently NEN has been engaged in creating awareness amongst people at
grassroots as well as district levels about the RTI Act, 2005 by
conducting workshops and trainings. NEN has been using street plays
and theatres as a powerful tool to popularize the Act among the
masses.  NEN is also a part of the national RTI movement and works in
solidarity.
Find below a chronology of NEN activities on Right to Information since 2005.
Activities of North East Network on Right to Information Act of 2005

May 2005
Monisha and Anjuman attended the international Conference on RTI held
by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative on May 24-26.The workshop
inspired us to invest our energies and effort on the issue of right to
information in the NE region.
July 2005
Samhita Barooah, Programme coordinator and Anjuman Ara Begum, Legal
Associate visited various organizations working on RTI including
Majdoor Kissan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) in Rajasthan, Parivartan,
Satark Nagarik Sangathan (SNS) and Common Wealth Human Rights
Initiative (CHRI) to familiarize themselves with the RTI initiatives
of these organizations.
August 2005
An Internal meeting was held on August 2nd, 2005 at Guwahati with
different partner organizations of NEN. These groups are SATRA,
Anwesha, Ghorua, Lachit Yavak Sangha, Bathou Club and Library. Anjuman
and Samhita's shared the different activities of RTI organizations in
Delhi and Rajasthan.  NEN's conviction that launching this campaign
with the support of these groups will prove to be a significant
contribution sensitize civil society and individuals.

Then came the two day Regional level workshop on RTI Act 2005 on
August 23 and 24 2005 at Guwahati, Assam. The Commonwealth Human
Rights Initiative (CHRI) conducted the workshop and several people
attended it from six northeastern states. The main objective of the
workshop was to familiarize and educate activists like ourselves about
the provisions of this law and plan an advocacy strategy that would
make the Government implement the RTI Act in the entire region
September 2005
International Right to Know Day, 28th September
In  Assam:
NEN organized several street plays in different parts of the city  to
mark the International Right to Know Day. The first street play was
enacted near the Deputy Commissioner's office in the morning, while
two others took place in strategic places of the city. The plays
performed by various groups (trained under the aegis of NEN),
highlighted the importance of acquiring and disseminating information
for empowering citizens as well as civil society.
An article on RTI, written by Anjuman Ara Begum, Legal Associate of
NEN was published in Editorial page of The Sentinel, a local paper of
Assam that same day.
In Nagaland
NEN's members observed the  'International Right To Know Day' at
Chizami Village on September 28,2005 too. The main objective of the
day's event was to educate the local populace about the Right to
Information Act 2005. Village leaders, men and women from both Chizami
and neighbouring villages, participated in the programme. Mr. Kewekha
Mero, the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), graced and addressed the
inaugural session. Highlighting some of the salient features of the
Act he stressed on the intervention of concerned citizens to bring
about transparency and accountability in the government functionaries.
In Manipur
NEN members, along with partner activists and a lawyer went for a
meeting with the Chief Secretary of Manipur to talk about the Right to
Know and submitted a memorandum requesting information on Government's
preparation of the forthcoming RTI Act.
In Meghalaya
Stickers depicting importance of Right to Information were distributed
to mark International Right to Know Day. Stickers were distributed to
thirteen Dorbars or traditional local bodies of Shillong  city, as
well as to the  public.
Memorandums urging the government for the effective implementation of
the RTI Act were submitted by us to the Chief Secretaries of Nagaland,
Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram during the month of
last week of September and first week of October, 2005.The memorandum
was signed by the members of civil society groups of NE India who
gathered at Guwahati during a two-day workshop on Right to Information
organized by North East Network in collaboration with Commonwealth
Human Rights Initiative during August 23-24, 2005.
October
October 7, 2005
Street play on right to information was held at Imphal, Manipur.
Memorandums on effective implementation of Right to Information Act in
States of Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh in the first week of
October.

November
Designing and preparation of RTI posters and stickers, billboard was done.
November 16
One day training programme on RTI Act was held at Nogstein, DC office,
East Khasi Hills, Mehghalaya
November 30, 2005
Billboard on RTI came out at super market, Guwahati, Assam.
Another billboard came out near Railway Station Guwahati
A Press Conference and  poster release was  organized by NEN on
December 5, 2005 to highlight the features of the Right to Information
Act, 2005. This was organised as a part of the 16 Day activities of
International Campaign to Stop Violence Against Women and Girls.
Samhita Barooah , coordinator , NEN briefly outlined the movement that
lead to the passing of the Act in May 2005. Referring to the roles of
various components, which could help make the Act achieve its
objectives, she said the media could play an important role in
informing the public about the Act that empowers people even at the
grassroots. She elucidated the part played by NEN to spread knowledge
about the Act by enacting street plays.
Radha Borooah said the Right to Information has special relevance for
women and those working for the cause of their welfare. Women faced
serious difficulties because of lack of information or due to various
impediments in acquiring reliable information. The Right to
Information Act with its broad provisions could help change that
situation for the better.
The Act was unfolded and discussed in some detail by Anjuman Ara Begum
 who provided definitions of what qualified as information. On the
State level, every government department should have one Public
Information Officer, who would be responsible for receiving requests
for information from the public. He would also be responsible for
providing the information requested, or stating reasons for inability
to do so. Under the Act the public has the right to appeal, in case he
is not satisfied with the information provided or if it has not been
provided at all. Section 24 of the Act has direct relevance to counter
violence against women. This section says that though certain
government authorities are exempted from the purview of this Act, but
they cannot deny information on the allegations of human rights
violations and corruption.
Journalist Shemim Sultana Ahmed of Agradoot, a prominent Assamese
daily, released some posters and stickers designed and published by
NEN on the Right to Information Act in the conference.

March 2006
Submission of RTI application to various departments requesting information.

March 27-28, 2006: Anjuman And Monisha Behal attended the two-day
National Conference On the working of Right to Information Act, 2005
held at New Delhi organized by CHRI.
April 19 and 21, 2006: District level workshop with grass root level
workshop on Right to information at Golaghat and Nogaon
April 24:Received requested information from Guwahati Municipal Corporation
May 24- 25, 2006:District level workshop in districts of Chirang and
Kokrajhar on May 24, 25.
May last week: Correspondence and in-house discussion on Anti- bribery
campaign using RTI.

June 13, 2006: A half?day RTI orientation to local NGOs of Guwahati At
STEP office, Guwahati. Fifteen participants from various organizations
attended the orientation programme.
July 1- July 7, 2006-Anti bribery campaign
A nationwide campaign against bribery using Right to Information Act,
2005 was launched by several media houses and NGOs starting 1st July
2006. The people were counseled about how to use the Right to
Information Act 2005, which is very effective in getting information.
A large number of people have been using RTI to get their work done
within the Government. Several media houses including NDTV, HT,
Deshonnati, Prabhat Khabar, Doritri, Andhra Jyoti, Raj Express,
Loksatta and The Hindu helped creating awareness through
advertisements and stories on the use of RTI.
Volunteers from hundreds of NGOs in about 50 cities of India spread
across 15 states, assisted people in filing RTI applications during 1
-15th July, 2006. Such Campaigns were held at Lumding, Guwahati and
Shillong in the North East Region.   A total of 200 people visited our
camp at CP Saikiani Bhawan, Guwahati and 50 RTI applications were
filed and a total of 50 phone calls were received during the Campaign.
The impact of the campaign was very encouraging. Though the campaign
is over NEN is still helping people on RTI from its office. An average
of 2-3 people visit NEN office with their queries on RTI.
NEN also worked as Coordinator for Assam for this particular Campaign
and helped its partner groups to carry out similar programmes in their
locality.
July 5, 2006 was the very first   hearing on Right to Information held
at the Assam Information Commission, Janata Bhawan. The hearing was
fixed after a complaint from  a member of North East Network who had
applied for information under the Right to Information Act 2005.The
information requested as to when J.N Borooah Lane and CK Agarwala Road
were last repaired and what was the total cost, policy on repairment
etc She filed her application to the Public Information Officer on
March 27, 2006. The Act says that the information must be furnished
within 30 days of filling of application. The applicant made a
personal enquiry about the status of her application after 45 days.
She was asked to move from table to table to know the status and
finally did  not information at all. So she made a complaint to Chief
Information Commission who in turn fixed the date of hearing on 5th
July 2006.
Further to the above, the Chief engineer was asked to explain why he
failed to give information to the applicant. He could not answer at
all. He was found to be guilty of violating section 4, 5, 6(3), 7. The
Chief Information Commissioner gave stern warning to the PIO to follow
the provisions of RTI Act and he has been given 15 days time to follow
the instructions under section 4 of the Act. He was not penalised on
the ground that the Act is new in Assam and hence less awareness and
lack of training of PIOs. He was also told that such complaint against
PWD in future would be penalized.This incident was covered by the NDTV
and local newspapers in Assam.
July 11, 2006
Workshop on RTI at Chariduar, Balipara Block of Sonitpur District.  A
total of 45 people came to attend this meeting. A short play was
enough for people to start asking questions abou the Act and the way
to go ahead.

July 25 & 26, 2006: Anjuman Ara Begum was invited as a resource person
to share her experience on RTI at the Training 3-day programme of PIOs
in Guwahati organized by Administrative Stuff College.

August 6, 2006: The NEN members conducted a day's RTI workshop at
Sualkuchi, Kamrup. NEN in collaboration with Kiran, a local NGO from
Sualkuchi organized it' About thirty participants including local
dignitaries attended the daylong programme. NEN members Anju, Rehana,
Rubi were the facilitators.

August 10-14, 2006: It would not be an exaggeration to say that the
nation was shocked when the Government of India suddenly decided to
amend the RTI Act 2005 to keep file notings out of the purview of the
Act. Various protests meetings were arranged all over the country. The
campaign "Save RTI' was launched. With the overwhelming support for
this issue, from many States, (even those under floods) some political
parties, the media, concerned individuals, groups and networks
protested. Anna Hazare and Sandeep Pandey  went on an indefinite
hunger strike, mobilizing support. The Government of India finally
decided not to table the RTI amendment Bill in this session of
Parliament. This has strengthened democratic processes and ensured
accountability of an elected government to its people. The referendum
has amply proved the tremendous interest and commitment of the
ordinary citizen.

Anjuman Ara Begum and Rhona Bhuyan and several other NEN members took
part in these protests in Delhi. Anjuman also attended a Workshop on "
fighting corruption using RTI " organized by International Initiative
on Corruption and Governance, Philippines held at New Delhi.

NEN's efforts towards  " save RTI act" campaign were
1. Letter to Prime minister, Sonia Gandhi protesting the proposed amendment.
2. Press release for the local newspapers
3. Participation in the nation wide campaign in Delhi
4. Signature campaign and referendum

August 18, 2006
Anjuman and Samhita attended a day-long training on RTI as resource
persons. They trained 25 members of Assam Mahila Samata Samiti from 8
districts of Assam, Guwahati. These participants will carry out
similar RTI orientation programmes in their respective areas.

August 20, 2006
NEN members Anjuman, Samhita and Nayantara attended a day long RTI
orientation programme for media personalities, organized by SATRA, at
Sipajhar, Darrang District. About 15 members of media represented
different print and electronic media. Anjuman and Samhita spoke about
the history of RTI , the RTI Act 2005, few success stories and
answered the various queries on RTI put forward by the media
personalities.

That's all for now and we hope this effort becomes an all north east
movement for achieving social justice and good governance.

Thank you,
Anjuman Ara Begum
Legal Associate
North East Network
J.N Borooah Lane
Jorpukhuri
Guwahati
Assam
PIN 781001
India
Telephone:(91-361) 2603833, Telefax:(91-361) 2631582
Website:www.northeastnetwork.org

North East Network
J.N.Borooah Lane
Jorpukhuri
Guwahati-781001
Assam
INDIA
Tel:+91-361-2603833
Telefax:+91-361-2631582
Visit us www.northeastnetwork.org