Right to Information

Little did I know how little I knew.

The news about Iran's election protests came at the perfect time. Once I finish this blog post, I'll press a single button, sending my words through a series of wires (or maybe tubes!) to a place where anybody in the world can take a peek at my musings. Meanwhile, hundreds of Iranians are posting videos, pictures, and first hand accounts of their protests on Twitter. Information is a free bake sale, where the cupcakes are bottomless and no one gets fat.

In the States, we have been afforded with a government that mostly allows us to share/obtain whatever information we desire (though its frightening to dream up ways they could take it away). The floodgates opened up when Congress passed the Freedom of Information Act in 1966. Today, with some contentious exceptions, individuals and groups are able to easily obtain government records. Transparency and accountability put our interests first.

India has a tougher gig. They are the largest democracy in the world, by far. Their interests span across language, religion, caste, class, gender, and favorite color. Regions of this country are arguably more diverse than the countries of Europe. Robert Dahl concluded that India "could sustain democratic institutions seems, on the face of it, is highly improbable. It lacks all the favourable conditions."

The goings-ons in Tehran are a miracle, to be sure, but the greatest democratic miracle is India, by a long shot. In 2005, the Lok Sabha belatedly passed its own FOIA--named the Right to Information Act. Indian citizens are now promoting their interests with full access to government records. A web portal has even been set up to ease the process of obtaining these records. The government is allowed 30 days to release the requested material, and anyone is able to see what their local/state/national authorities are up to. It's a remarkable process for a government that is known for its endless bureaucracy and its sizable constituency.

My work at Indicorps these past two weeks has been closely tied to the idea that all Indians should have free and open access to their government. University students and other concerned young people have spent the last month visiting and evaluating the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), essentially an overarching authority that takes care of all the problems a city infrastructure may face: sewage, potholes, you know the drill. Later this week, we are presenting a comphrehensive report on the state of the AMC, its problems, loopholes, and a series of suggestions to improve the system. Meanwhile, we are also compiling a handbook of AMC numbers, FAQs, and RTI information to disseminate out to local Gujaratis. I jumped on this project as official graphic designer (with virtually no graphic design background at all) as well as the undeserved role of "American advisor" who can present some perspective on how local authorities work in the states (under the assumption that they work perfectly). We plan to produce upwards 10,000 copies of this handbook for use at all Indicorps events, as well as offices of AMC and other pertinent businesses.

Between being a working stiff, Nick (Raul), Marc (Marcus), Becky (Pecky), Catherine (CMI), and myself (Crandeesh) spend a few nights working at Seva Cafe. The cafe's business model relies on honesty--customers are allowed to pay whatever amount they wish for their meal. The kitchen and staff consists of volunteers, and all the profits go straight to various NGOs in the city. My first night as a waiter was pretty rough. I thought that my umpiring years were enough training to deal with angry people, until I had a few business men walk out, yelling in Gujarati, because they didn't recieve their roti bread in time. The next night I just stuck to washing dishes.

Within and without Seva Cafe, we have met an endless stream of friendly people more than willing to lend their motorbike, cook up a quick meal, spend their morning leading a trek up a mountain, put us up in a free government-run hotel (thank you, Gujarat taxpayers!), and unwaveringly do anything to make sure we are having the time of our lives. As I type, Kiran-bhai is helping Nick plan out our Himalayan adventure for August.

So as valuable as the internet has been for passing information, leaning of India, and such, it's been useless compared to the insight I'm retaining from the people who choose every day to pass it along.

Pictures soon, and VIDEOS! Still searching for that elusive sustaining internet connection.