Event: Anhad - Date: 9th August, 2019
On 9th August the students of KPMSoL interacted with Mr Shailesh Gandhi – Ex Central Information Commissioner. The session was held in the backdrop of the newly passed Amendments to the RTI act. Mr Gandhi has been the only former activist to have become the Central Information Commissioner, his story from being part of a pressure group and demanding transparency in the government’s functioning to being one of the most efficient Information commissioners was immensely inspiring for the students.
A tribute was paid by Team Anhad and the audience to Late Smt. Sushma Swaraj and Late Sh. Shamnad Basheer: luminaries of the political and legal world respectively. A minute’s silence was observed in the memory of these personalities. Mr Gandhi’s interaction with the students began by him stressing upon the lack of realisation by this country’s citizens that they are supposed to be Kings and Queens in the democratic and governing process. Following this he explained all the sections of the RTI act along with how each of them come in use. The explanation to each section was accompanied by a discussion and a short quiz to deepen and test the students’ knowledge on the subject. The Right to Information is not a privilege for the citizens. We as citizens of this country are the owners of all the data and information possessed by the government. Enlightened citizens must be vigilant against corrupt practices, undue delays and negligence by the government. Each of us can contribute in improving the lackadaisical governing processes present in this country by keeping the authorities in check.
The session was a great success as all students found a deep connection with the concerns, real-life stories and the power of RTI expressed by Mr Gandhi with great exuberance. The students had an enthusiastic interaction with the guest and session concluded in high spirits.
Images below:
1) Now become a part of cherished tradition, a group photographs with the participants and Sh. Shailesh Gandhi Ji.
2) Sh. Shailesh Gandhi Ji interacting with students on why RTI is one of the most powerful tool of democratic setup.
3) Following his lecture, our two young member (Vaidushya and Manan), presented a small plant sapling as a token of gratitude to our guest Sh. Shailesh Gandhi Ji.
