National Campaign for People's Right to Information

National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) was established in 1996 to push for the creation of a Right to Information Act in India. More recently, this movement has also campaigned for Grievance redressal bill and Whistleblowers protection bill.[1][2] Few affiliated organizations are MKSS, CHRI and NFIW.

History

The campaign has its roots in the work and experiences of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan. It was established in 1996 at a gathering of more than a hundred activist organisations. Later that year, it drafted the first version of a Right to Information Law in India, along with the Press Council of India.[3]

Whistleblower Protection Bill

The National Campaign for People's Right to Information demanded the Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2011, be amended, including by a clearer definition of victimization, protection for persons other than the whistleblowers who provide relevant information, penalty for mala fide revelation of the identity of whistleblowers, a time limit for complaints and provision for filing anonymous complaints.[4]

The campaign has steadily fought for the passage of the Whistleblower Protection bill since September 2010. As a part of public action for the passage of the bill, families of whistleblowers gathered in Delhi to demand the immediate passage of the bill.[5] The Whistleblower Protection bill was passed on the 21st of February 2014.[6]

Recent activities

The National Campaign for People's Right to Information met the Prime Minister on August 19, 2013 to submit a petition seeking deferring amendments related to the exclusion of the political parties from the ambit of the Right to Information Act.[7]

Dhananjay Dubey, brother of murdered whistleblower Satyendra Dubey, and the National Campaign for People's Right to Information started a petition signed by over 10,000 people demanding the immediate passage of the Whistleblower Protection and Grievance Redress bills.[8]

The NCPRI opposed the RTI Amendment Bill 2019, and more details on the campaign position can be found on their official website here. In response to the amended law, the 'Use RTI, Demand Accountability' campaign has been launched.

References
  1. "Grievance redressal Bill could be the next RTI". TOI. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  2. "NCPRI brainstorms Grievance Redress, Whistleblower Protection". The Hindu. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  3. Baviskar, Amita (2010). John Gaventa and Rosemary McGee (ed.). Winning the right to information in India: Is knowledge power?. London: Zed Books.
  4. http://www.livemint.com/Politics/1nZz2SIzkgWIR2DPeW0FhL/Approve-Whistleblowers-Protection-Bill-in-the-budget-session.html
  5. IANS (2 December 2013). "NCPRI for early passage of whistleblowers protection bill". Times of India. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  6. PTI (23 February 2014). "Whistleblowers' Protection Bill passed". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  7. "Activists meet PM to protest against RTI amendments"
  8. "Petition for passage of Whistleblower Protection bill". Retrieved 1 March 2014.
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