Kabir : A communication initiative on Right to Information
Location
In India, Various groups and individuals are using Right To Information Act 2005 as a tool to fight against corruption, in very innovative ways. It’s encouraging to see how ordinary people, who usually do not have access to government officials and machinery, are forcing governments to respond. There are numerous examples of the empowerment of people in this way. But still these examples of using RTI were isolated and not too frequent. A large number of people were not even aware of the existence of such a law and it’s impact on the lives of other people like them. To motivate people, these success stories need to be spread. People would also need to be educated on how and where to use RTI Act.
Kabir, being a communication initiative aims to bridge this gap by getting all relevant information out to the masses. One of the key operations of Kabir has been the collection of positive examples of implementation of the RTI Act from across the country. This information is then disseminated amongst the masses (both rural and urban) by using conventional and non conventional media. Kabir produces short films & documentaries, and publishes booklets based on the success stories of RTI Act – which are then disseminated to the masses through mainstream media, workshops, campaigns and other NGOs. Apart from these initiatives, Kabir also organizes media-community partnerships, so as to ensure the even progress of India’s urban and rural areas, and to widely publicize the current problems being faced in any given area of using RTI.
As a result of our efforts, we create and broaden the scope of a repetitive cycle of people’s learning about the effectiveness of the RTI Act in their life from examples of other people, and gradually becoming an inspiration for others.
About You
Location
Project Street Address
Project City
Project Province/State
Project Postal/Zip Code
Project Country
Your idea
Focus of activity
Other
Year the initative began (yyyy)
2005
Positioning of your initiative on the mosaic diagram,
Which of these barriers is the primary focus of your work?
Lack of Accountability & Transparency
Which of the principles is the primary focus of your work?
Foment Transparency
If you believe some other barrier or principle should be included in the mosaic, please describe it and how it would affect the positioning of your initiative in the mosaic:
I think Giving 'voice and value to common man' should also be included as principle since the fight against corruption is more close to empower (giving value and voice) the common man.
Name Your Project
Kabir : A communication initiative on Right to Information
Describe Your Idea
In India, Various groups and individuals are using Right To Information Act 2005 as a tool to fight against corruption, in very innovative ways. It’s encouraging to see how ordinary people, who usually do not have access to government officials and machinery, are forcing governments to respond. There are numerous examples of the empowerment of people in this way. But still these examples of using RTI were isolated and not too frequent. A large number of people were not even aware of the existence of such a law and it’s impact on the lives of other people like them. To motivate people, these success stories need to be spread. People would also need to be educated on how and where to use RTI Act.
Kabir, being a communication initiative aims to bridge this gap by getting all relevant information out to the masses. One of the key operations of Kabir has been the collection of positive examples of implementation of the RTI Act from across the country. This information is then disseminated amongst the masses (both rural and urban) by using conventional and non conventional media. Kabir produces short films & documentaries, and publishes booklets based on the success stories of RTI Act – which are then disseminated to the masses through mainstream media, workshops, campaigns and other NGOs. Apart from these initiatives, Kabir also organizes media-community partnerships, so as to ensure the even progress of India’s urban and rural areas, and to widely publicize the current problems being faced in any given area of using RTI.
As a result of our efforts, we create and broaden the scope of a repetitive cycle of people’s learning about the effectiveness of the RTI Act in their life from examples of other people, and gradually becoming an inspiration for others.
Innovation
Description of initiative
In India, Various groups and individuals are using Right To Information Act 2005 as a tool to fight against corruption, in very innovative ways. It’s encouraging to see how ordinary people, who usually do not have access to government officials and machinery, are forcing governments to respond. There are numerous examples of the empowerment of people in this way. But still these examples of using RTI were isolated and not too frequent. A large number of people were not even aware of the existence of such a law and it’s impact on the lives of other people like them. To motivate people, these success stories need to be spread. People would also need to be educated on how and where to use RTI Act.
Kabir, being a communication initiative aims to bridge this gap by getting all relevant information out to the masses. One of the key operations of Kabir has been the collection of positive examples of implementation of the RTI Act from across the country. This information is then disseminated amongst the masses (both rural and urban) by using conventional and non conventional media. Kabir produces short films & documentaries, and publishes booklets based on the success stories of RTI Act – which are then disseminated to the masses through mainstream media, workshops, campaigns and other NGOs. Apart from these initiatives, Kabir also organizes media-community partnerships, so as to ensure the even progress of India’s urban and rural areas, and to widely publicize the current problems being faced in any given area of using RTI.
As a result of our efforts, we create and broaden the scope of a repetitive cycle of people’s learning about the effectiveness of the RTI Act in their life from examples of other people, and gradually becoming an inspiration for others.
Innovation
There are lots of organisations and individuals involved with Right To Information campaign. But their efforts are largely limited by geographical region or a specific area of governance. We are trying to work as a bridge between their experiences and the rest of society. We not only collect their stories and take them to masses through media but also make them aware of others’ experiences. For instance, immediately after the enactment of the RTI Act in 2005, Kabir started recording experiences of various individuals and organisations. This included pioneer organisations like Majdoor Kisaan Shakti Sangathan, Parivartan and very common citizen from remote parts of the country. Their efforts, though very effective, were limited geographically. However, Kabir widely publicised their experiences approaches, and subsequent successes. As a result, many other organisations and people were inspired and effectively used a combination of the approaches used by them.
Hence, Kabir’s approach is very unique in inspiring people, by providing them with a storehouse of related information from all over.
Delivery Model
The core activities of Kabir are divided into following three distinct areas. These areas are categorised by the activity in each area, namely Collection, Analysis and Dissemination.
a) Documentation: Collecting raw information from all over the country about various developments taking place on the right to information. This includes a database of RTI activists and volunteers from across the country, their success stories, and events related to the RTI. The data is collected through a network of individuals and organisations, who are actively associated with the RTI movement, and field visits to different places to document and record various stories and events on audio-visual medium. The information recorded at this stage is fed to the Kabir Media Space.
b) Kabir Media Space: The information collected at the first phase is analysed and discussed at this stage. The core team, in consultation with experts, decides the best strategies that should be employed for the preparation and presentation of the content. This includes developing various types of material, which is used for wide dissemination like media coverage, short films on success stories, ad films, spots, pamphlets, banners, posters and stickers (which are used during workshops and for running campaigns).
c) Dissemination: Our dissemination activities involve a series of strategies to get information to the right place through the right sources. This entails creating a series of collaborations with individuals, organisations and media houses. Well prepared inputs to media are provided on regular basis. We also coordinate national and regional level partnership campaigns with media that involve local groups as well. Assistance in using RTI is also provided to individuals. This assistance may be in person or on phone or guiding them through network RTI expert-volunteers in their own city or nearby.
Key Operational Partnerships
Kabir’s model relies heavily on informal partnerships with various individuals and organisations at different levels. We have teamed up with media houses, campaigners, activists, student groups, professionals. Campaigns are also being supported by various corporate entities, and people of Indian origin residing overseas. Broadly we can put our formal and informal partners into four categories-
RTI Users : Those individuals and groups who are using RTI and have got remarkable experience to share.
Media : Media Houses including print and electronics media are always in hunt for good stories. We have informal (sometimes formal too) partnership with them to get these stories published. Hundreds of such stories have been carried by media. We are also providing regular inputs to a weekly program on Doordarshan News (state owned news channel) on RTI named Jaanane Ka Haque (Right to Know).
Individuals and Groups looking to know about RTI: These are citizen’s, student’s, professional’s groups and social workers who want to learn and know more about RTI. This also includes NGOs who want to be a part of RTI awareness campaign.
Various government agencies are also in touch with us to learn and understand developments related to RTI.
Supporters: Kabir receives infrastructure support from the Ford Foundation.
Impact
Financial Model
The entire concept of RTI campaign is based on making people use this act and question the government about it’s activities. The costs of an application under the RTI Act are negligible, with application fees ranging from zero (for a person below the poverty line) to Rs. 10. So the beneficiaries of the RTI Act (and hence of Kabir’s activities) are not required to bear substantial costs.
Kabir does charge a minimal fee for some of the material it distributes (such as video CDs, and information booklets on the RTI Act). However, these materials are distributed at a price low enough to cover the replication costs faced by Kabir. Most of our production costs and minor infrastructure costs are covered by a grant from the Ford Foundation.
In addition, Kabir organises workshops, camps and seminars, which are open to all individuals. These workshops are mainly organised by partner groups.
What percentage, if any, of the total operating costs does earned income (from products, services, or other fees) represent?
n/a
How is the initiative financed? Is it financially self-sustainable or profitable? How much do beneficiaries contribute?
Kabir is being financed primarily by the Ford Foundation, which provides support for large infrastructure costs, and most of our operating costs. In that respect, Kabir is not financially self-sufficient or profitable, since it aims to provide services (like information dissemination) with zero (or negligible) costs to the common man. Our beneficiaries provide a negligible portion of our total operating costs.
Effectiveness
Though Kabir's activities are structured to slowly impact the very fabric of society in India, it has had a direct and measurable impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the country. Some of Kabir's aggressive media campaigns in the past have made Right to Information an important issue. These campaigns have not only generated mass awareness but also actvated lots of groups to get involved with RTI related activities.
Moreover, print and electronic media all over the country has become sensitised to the issues of the RTI Act as a result of these campaigns. This has led to the issue of the Right to Information in India receiving continuous and broad media publicity for a long time – which in turn causes the common man to be inspired to use the Act himself.
However, Kabir aims to be a people's movement, and so a complete discussion of Kabir's impact would involve the impact of the activities of the people of India in general.
Which element of the program proved itself most effective?
There are three events and achievements that come to mind that were extremely effective:
“Drive Against Bribe”: This was a nationwide most successful campaign organised by Kabir with 700 groups, during 1-15 July, 2006. The campaign encouraged and assisted people to stop giving bribes, use RTI instead. This was supported by 8 media groups as partners, including NDTV, Hindustan Times, The Hindu etc.
“RTI Action Research Villages”: This is an ongoing campaign in 5 remote villages to study the impact caused by RTI being used extensively by villagers. The inspiration for this campaign came from the actions of a very remote and economically backward village in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. After trying all other methods, the local villagers finally succeeded in getting basic civic amenities like roads and electricity in their villages by using the RTI Act. The Action Research Villages campaign aimed to get filed at least 300 RTI requests from each village. These applications are having a tremendous and immediate effect. For instance, tardy school teachers were replaced and basic drainage infrastructure was set up in many villages as a result of applications being sent under the RTI act questioning the status of these activities. See video for details http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlJKmDE0C1M , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUa0RHOyEN8
Kabir helped set up the “Jaankari”, government run call centre in the state of Bihar. This is a very unique concept – perhaps never before implemented in the world. This call centre enables people to call in and file RTI request by leaving a simple voice message. The application fee is added on to the caller's phone bill. This not only makes it drastically easier for every person in the state to file RTI applications, but also enables the illiterate and underprivileged to file an application without having to hire someone to write the application for them. See video for details http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq3H5i6bkmk
Number of clients in the last year?
Kabir's clients – the beneficiaries are spread throughout the country. Their numbers are so vast and spread so wide that it is difficult to quote any single figure. But hundreds of thousands of Indians have been directly assisted in the recent past during various campaigns. Most of them were frustrated, deprived and poor because of failure of governance.
What is the potential demand?
Kabir sees a tremendous demand for its activities in society. Every Indian is fed up with the current state of corruption and government inefficiency but ends up thinking there is no recourse. The RTI Act is the answer to many, if not all of these problems. Therefore, Kabir sees a strong continuing demand for its activities of spreading RTI awareness among the common man in India.
Scaling up Strategy
Kabir aims to scale up its efforts by working with more & more activists and volunteers to spread the word of RTI all across the country. Recently, Kabir has witnessed a lot of growth in this area. For instance, a convention organised in the city of Pune was a big success – with RTI activists from 23 different states in the country being represented. These are the sort of activities that Kabir intends to continue organising, to further the creation of personal bonding among all the RTI activists in the country.
Kabir’s priority in the next 3 years is to get every citizen of India to be aware of (and well versed in) the RTI Act.
Stage of the initiative
1
Expansion plan
While the Right To Information movement has been tremendously successful in getting greater transparency of government officials to the masses, there is a lot more needed to make the system accountable to a common man. Because today after almost two years of RTI experience, people have started asking – What after we get information under RTI? What to do when we expose the corruption on paper? In the long term, there is a need for a larger system that will ensure that our system of governance stays efficient and accountable to the people it is designed for. To ensure that this happens, Kabir has started to extend its plans – merging the RTI campaign into a larger campaign to promote greater local self (direct) governance in the country. Kabir wants governance in each village – each area to be directly in control of the people, and to have the autonomy to decide its own collective expenditure from tax revenue.
Origin of the Initiative
Kabir started when Manish Sisodia, a newsperson from a national news channel (Zee News) felt the need for a more active co-operation between the media and various entities working in the field of the Right To Information. As an active part of the RTI campaign, Manish felt that the media would find it easier to report on the state of governance in the country if they found the information in the right form. This co-operation took the shape of the media initiative that came to be called Kabir. Since then, Kabir has worked closely with various media organisations, providing them with information in a form that they can easily adapt for their own use.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
Main Obstacles to Scaling Up
1) Apathy of government workers – the government officials, in their own interest, are not responsive to any movement that brings about a change in the style of working (or lack thereof) in their offices. This is perhaps the biggest obstacle in the way of the RTI movement.
2) Apathy of people – sometimes, the notion that corruption is an unchangeable fact of life becomes lodged in people’s minds. This presents itself in the form of scepticism of the common man towards any new law or movement designed to bring about greater transparency.
Main Financial Challenges
Kabir, being inherently a grassroots level people’s movement is not heavily dependent on large infrastructure, and hence there are no big financial challenges likely to present themselves as such. But media being a capital oriented field, we feel that if we get support from different sectors, we could expedite this effort at large scale.
Main Partnership Challenges
The Right To Information, being a new movement, is generally being very well accepted by the people and the media. So far Kabir’s partners have been very willing and eager, and Kabir has not had any difficulty setting up key partnership – either with media entities or with other RTI activist groups.
How did you hear about this contest and what is your main incentive to participate?
Kabir was informed about this contest by the Ashoka foundation. The main incentive for Kabir is spreading the message of the change being caused throughout the country by this RTI movement.
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 | DSC04008.JPG | 1015 KB |
 | village day 2 taj khudai..behraich 009.jpg | 1.22 MB |
 | DSC03907.JPG | 1.16 MB |
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