A critical Overview on Right A critical Overview on Right to Information and Poverty to Information and Poverty

ImpactImpact

Presentation includes:Presentation includes:►Conceptualizing RTI as a development toolConceptualizing RTI as a development tool►Linkage between RTI and Poverty Reduction Linkage between RTI and Poverty Reduction ( examples; Bangladesh rural context) ( examples; Bangladesh rural context) ►MJF Experiences and Potential use of RTI law in MJF Experiences and Potential use of RTI law in addressing Poverty issuesaddressing Poverty issues

►Recommendations in context of poverty impactRecommendations in context of poverty impact

Conceptualizing RTIConceptualizing RTI

Concept as explained in different International Concept as explained in different International Conventions: Conventions:

► Freedom of information is a fundamental human right and the Freedom of information is a fundamental human right and the touchstone for all rights touchstone for all rights

► Right to Information enables citizens to seek information from Right to Information enables citizens to seek information from duty holders and makes duty bearers responsible to disseminate duty holders and makes duty bearers responsible to disseminate important information proactively even if it is not asked for. important information proactively even if it is not asked for.

Predominate perception about use of RTI in Bangladesh: Predominate perception about use of RTI in Bangladesh: ► Media centric Media centric ► Perception changed from media centric to development tools Perception changed from media centric to development tools

based on civil society movement and field based experiencesbased on civil society movement and field based experiences

RTI and Poverty ImpactRTI and Poverty ImpactLinkage between RTI and PovertyLinkage between RTI and Poverty

► RTI can be used as resource or strategy to address poverty issuesRTI can be used as resource or strategy to address poverty issues

► RTI can address various dimensions of poverty such as; income poverty, RTI can address various dimensions of poverty such as; income poverty, insecurity, social dimension of poverty( education and health), social menace insecurity, social dimension of poverty( education and health), social menace leads to poverty, reducing potential risks of disaster etc. leads to poverty, reducing potential risks of disaster etc.

RTI and Poverty Impact linkage not well understood RTI and Poverty Impact linkage not well understood

Demand side ProblemDemand side Problem

► lack of understanding the importance of information in their daily lives; lack lack of understanding the importance of information in their daily lives; lack of understanding that information can be an added dimension for changing of understanding that information can be an added dimension for changing poor people sociopolitical and economic livespoor people sociopolitical and economic lives

► lack of capacity of the poor to claim information from proper authority in a lack of capacity of the poor to claim information from proper authority in a timely and correct manner. timely and correct manner.

Supply side ProblemSupply side Problem

► The poor are primarily seen as recipient of development and not considered as The poor are primarily seen as recipient of development and not considered as active active

agents agents

► Poverty is mostly defined as income poverty; Poverty is mostly defined as income poverty;

► Most interventions are targeted to economic initiatives and does not focus on Most interventions are targeted to economic initiatives and does not focus on participation aspect which empowers people to demand services as a right. participation aspect which empowers people to demand services as a right.

MJF Experiences: RTI and Poverty MJF Experiences: RTI and Poverty ImpactImpact

Background Information Background Information

► MJF support rights and governance initiatives in Bangladesh MJF support rights and governance initiatives in Bangladesh

► Lesson learnt based on many interventions reveals that Lesson learnt based on many interventions reveals that accessing information related to livelihood and other options accessing information related to livelihood and other options can empower poor and marginalized people to claim their can empower poor and marginalized people to claim their rightsrights

► It is a hurdle for most of the implementing agencies to ensure It is a hurdle for most of the implementing agencies to ensure

necessary information for poor and marginalized groups necessary information for poor and marginalized groups

► Civil society led RTI movement starting from 2005 Civil society led RTI movement starting from 2005

MJF supported Projects and ExperiencesMJF supported Projects and Experiences Projects Experiences reveal thatProjects Experiences reveal that

► Linking poor people to information sources on livelihood aspects such Linking poor people to information sources on livelihood aspects such as agriculture, use of seed, fertilizer, pesticides, disease control as agriculture, use of seed, fertilizer, pesticides, disease control mechanism of livestock, building houses etc. mechanism of livestock, building houses etc.

► Access to information contributed to improved education and to better Access to information contributed to improved education and to better health standards. health standards.

► Access to information assists to optimize the use of local resources Access to information assists to optimize the use of local resources including labour in the planning, designing, implementation and including labour in the planning, designing, implementation and maintenance of the rural infrastructure works. maintenance of the rural infrastructure works.

► Empowering people through legal information and other entitlements Empowering people through legal information and other entitlements can assist to overcome social menace such as dowry, early marriage, can assist to overcome social menace such as dowry, early marriage, polygamy etc. polygamy etc.

► Open budget dialogue sessions compels Union Parishad to disclose Open budget dialogue sessions compels Union Parishad to disclose fiscal year budget publicly giving detail of expenditure and income fiscal year budget publicly giving detail of expenditure and income sources with future plan sources with future plan

Potential use of RTI Ordinance in BangladeshPotential use of RTI Ordinance in Bangladesh ► 100 days guaranteed rural employment scheme for 2 million people to 100 days guaranteed rural employment scheme for 2 million people to

address seasonal unemployment and other social safety net address seasonal unemployment and other social safety net programme programme

► Proper maintenance of land records and reducing land related Proper maintenance of land records and reducing land related corruption corruption

► Facilitate the process of reducing corruption, resource mis utilization Facilitate the process of reducing corruption, resource mis utilization and and system improvement and and system improvement

Recommendations Recommendations Strategic interventions for using RTI law to address Poverty.Strategic interventions for using RTI law to address Poverty. ► Mainstreaming RTI as an important component in all poverty alleviation Mainstreaming RTI as an important component in all poverty alleviation

programmeprogramme

► Mechanism, tools and methods of providing information considering poor Mechanism, tools and methods of providing information considering poor people’s needs as they l are not one homogenous group, their diverse needs people’s needs as they l are not one homogenous group, their diverse needs and interests are important. and interests are important.

► Building pro poor institutions and people’s organizations to facilitate the process Building pro poor institutions and people’s organizations to facilitate the process of equipping them with necessary information in relation to better livelihood of equipping them with necessary information in relation to better livelihood optionsoptions

► Efficient info intermediary should be developed mandated to work at grassroots Efficient info intermediary should be developed mandated to work at grassroots

level catering for the information needs of poor peoplelevel catering for the information needs of poor people ► NGOs and other development practitioners can get involved in RTI activism to NGOs and other development practitioners can get involved in RTI activism to

contribute to enhance poor people’s information claiming rights and facilitate contribute to enhance poor people’s information claiming rights and facilitate information provider to remove various barriers. Their whistle blower role is information provider to remove various barriers. Their whistle blower role is important hereimportant here

► Media both print and press can raise awareness of both public and public bodies 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 on how information as an important resource can play a pivotal role to eradicate poverty. poverty.