Action Research Villages Campaign 2006-2007
- Rajiv Gandhi
The solution to the problem Rajiv Gandhi alludes to lies in spreading awareness of Right to Information (RTI) in villages so that the villagers themselves can monitor the flow of this money instead of relying upon a corrupt, failed system. In response, Action Research Villages (ARV) has been a year long experimental campaign in Uttar Pradesh to promote the extensive use of RTI and study the impact of using RTI on the following:
Jointly launched in December 2006 by Poorest Area Civil Society Project (PACS) partners ABSS from Dehat and Delhi based RTI activism group Kabir, the campaign was focused on five villages in various districts of Uttar Pradesh. The following villages were chosen for the experiment because they represent a wide range of different socio-economic, political and geographical backgrounds:
The impacts of the campaign were tremendous. The villagers were trained and encouraged to file a minimum of 300 RTI applications on various issues from each village. The experience and outcomes of the campaign have been encouraging not only in the targeted villages but also in the surrounding villages where the word of RTI has spread. In a few cases there has even been a district wide dispersal of RTI awareness and impacts! We hope to replicate similar campaigns throughout India.
Learn more about the ARV Campaign: