Winning the Right to Information Campaign in India

In 2005 after a nine-year campaign by people’s organizations, the Indian government implemented a far-reaching Right to Information (RTI) Act. The RTI, which requires all central, state, and local government institutions to meet public demands for information is one of the strongest in the world. It empowers citizens to demand greater government accountability, improve their participation in decision making, and help reduce corruption. This research summary by Amita Baviskar of the Institute of Development Strategies shows how a national network of people’s organizations helped enact this legislation and ensure it was put into practice.