Re: [HumJanenge]

Naveen,

I agree with you only partly. Technology if implemented correctly can eliminate corruption and introduce the much needed transparency and accountability.

Computerized Railway Reservation has improved the system overall, but the black sheep are trying to subvert the good with evil by introducing dubious systems to break-in.

As one of the pioneers of rural biometric identification for tracking of beneficiaries of NREGP and winner of Manthan Award for my grass-root initiative, I can vouch for the advantage of technology in transforming society if implemented correctly. The catch here is correctly - to introduce total transparency and accountability.

I was invited by Shri. Nitish Kumar to carry out the Proof of Concept for Unique Biometric Identification and Tracking of Beneficiaries of NREGP. The successful Proof of concept is now being implemented as e-Sakthi Project to cover 25 million poorest of poor. i am not sure how well the project is being implemented in Bihar and if it would ultimately bring the desired benefit of eliminating corruption and ntroducing the much needed transparency and accountability.

One classis case is the cute shortage of food availability in remote parts of rural India and at the same time food grains being allowed to rot and duplicate / bogus ration cards helping middlemen and corrupt officials to siphon out huge sums of money in the guise of helping the poor.  

The Unique ID Biometric Smart card if made mandatory for all transactions and currency is demonetized, then there can be total transparency and accountability. We would not be seeing so many scams as we see now!!!

Best,

Kris Dev

On Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 11:45 AM, naveen tewari <nct.lko@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Kris,

Thanks for  your mail. Actually I should have said section 4 because each sub clause is important. 4-1A is part of 4-1B and 4-1(2) points towards the ultimate aim of this enactment. 

Please do not over emphasize the utility of Technology. Corruption is not a technological problem can it be solved by technology alone. The biggest success of technology that we have seen in arresting corruption is the result of computerization of Railway reservations but even that has not eradicated it completely. Besides, I think that corruption in reservations minuscule in comparison with the overall corruption in railways. Just because public at large does not face it on a daily basis does not mean that corruption in Railways has been taken care of by technology. I will give another example; The best technology will be rendered ineffective in the face of People like Lalu Yadav and A Raja. But if there is a Nitish Kumar, then just having the will to remove corruption is enough.

Another very disturbing phenomenon that I have seen emerging in the context of RTI is that people who have indulged in corruption which has come to light due to declarations under RTI have developed immunity after seeing that no deterrent punishment was meted out to them and they tend to declare now with impunity: Jaan lo or jo ker sako tto ker lo!

Now the larger question staring us in the face is : do we as people disapprove of corruption? or do we only hate others unlawful gains?

The results of Bihar elections will surely give some indication about the psyche of the people of our country.

with best wishes

naveen tewari

On Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 10:30 AM, Kris Dev <krisdev@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Navin,

Your points well taken. Sec 4.1.(a) is as important as 4.1. (b) of RTI Act 2005, as it talks of integrating the communication throughout the country for access from anywhere through any system for transparency and accountability. If sufficient funds are allocated and implemented, this can transform governance in India.

What do you others think of this? I shall raise this point in my forthcoming debate - Battle of Ideas 2010 - "A technological Democracy?"

Best,

Kris Dev

On Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 7:51 AM, <nct.lko@gmail.com> wrote:

I hope my name is there in the list.at least it will validate my locus as a RTI activist.
What a farce these intelligence agencies are capable of creating can be anybody's guess.
If I talk to A and A talks to B and  B to C and so on till Z who may be linked to a terrorist the entire chain from A to Y is also linked.
I can assure you without seeing the list that in the end this will be the actual finding.
In this country everything is a sham--- from lawmakers  to the laws they make. RTI act is also going to prove such a law with which people on both giving and receiving ends will play for a few decades and neither we will receive anything substantial nor anybody has any intention of bringing any transparency and ultimately the gainers will be
1- The  Information commissioners 2- The whole lot of people getting direct and indirect jobs in the commissions
3- some cunning people in the garb of activists who may get some crumbs from the officials caught on the wrong foot.
4- And Last but never the least- lawyers of this country who gain in every situation and skin everybody whether it is a case of murder or divorce.

The intention of all the governments is amply clear for those who see things as they are and not live in fool's paradise- if after 5 years of enactment no serious and genuine effort has been made towards suo moto declarations under section 4-1(b),it is enough to convey the real intent of enactment of RTI act. It is another smart move to release pressure by opening a tiny hole and making people hope against hope that this country will change.

With apologies to all  RTI activists-
Great and small,


Naveen tewari
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