Decentralise power, Hazare to CM

[karira]

Decentralise power, Hazare to CM

Pune, December 2 Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Sunday said that common people in the State are suffering because Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has lost control over the government and the administration. Hazare demanded more de-centralisation of power to empower people, enabling them to initiate action against lethargic government.

Hazare was speaking as a chief guest of a function organised by city-based Sajag Nagrik Manch (SNM) to confer “Sagaj Nagrik Manch Right of Information Act ( RTI)” award on RTI activist Dr Shriram Pande.

“Recently I met Chief Minister and told him that he has lost control over the government and administration. He is unable to control the government machinery,” said Hazare, adding the centralisation of power has weakened the democracy. Hazare said he has asked the Chief Minister to initiate steps to pass Act in the State Assembly, which could decentralise powers. “How could minister and secretaries sitting in Mumbai control the rationing and kerosene distribution system? In government offices, common people are asked to move court for solving their problems. In this case, people should get power to drag lethargic officer in court for not using their powers,” said Hazare.

He said that the State Government is least interested in propagating RTI Act. “The Act itself says that the government should inform and educate people about the Act, but that is not happening at all,” said Hazare.
Shriram Pande who received award insisted that common people should come forward to know about the Act.
RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi said that by using RTI Act citizens are establishing their sovereignty. “ The government machinery and the Information commissioners are not active to reply the RTI appeals. The fear of pending more and more cases is becoming a common scene. Today 12000 RTI cases are pending. Every month about 1100- 1200 RTI applications are submitted, while the rate of reply to appeals is very slow,” said Gandhi. Vivek Velankar and Jugal Rathi of SNM were present on the occasion.

Decentralise power, Hazare to CM