| Dear Moneylifers, |  | |
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| Greetings! |
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| It has been an exciting month for Moneylife Foundation, having finally achieved a breakthrough in Mr Shailesh Gandhi's #RTIBachao campaign, which was initiated in February 2018. But before I tell you more about this campaign, I request you to block your afternoon on 26th May for another major programme on Right to Information (RTI).  We are delighted to announce that Mr Prithviraj Chavan, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Prof. Dr Shridhar Acharayalu (Central Information Commissioner) will speak on RTI : A Constitutional Right. Mr Prithviraj Chavan will also release Dr Acharayalu's book: Is Bribing A Family Affair. This book is important for activists as it discusses RTI and Miscounduct of Public Servants. It also analyses the Girish R Deshpande judgement and other binding precedents related to RTI. This is not a programme you want to miss. Please check details and registration below. |
| #RTIBachao: The campaign initiated by Mr Gandhi, the former Central Information Commissioner, sought better accountability of government and demanded that information, as envisaged under Sec 4 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act must be put in the public domain. Several activists had come together to make a stand on the constant devaluation of the RTI Act and the propensity of the politicians and bureaucrats to label activists seeking legitimate information as blackmailers and extortionists. Demands were made of the Municipal Corporations through elected representatives to publish all RTI related queries and their replies on their websites to prevent any information being misused by vested interests. |
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| After a lengthy campaign, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has announced that it will soon publish all RTI applications and their answers on their website. The campaign has also shown signs of initial success in Thane and Mira Bhayandar with their respective municipal corporations also agreeing to publish online RTI applications and replies. This is only a small first step! Mr Gandhi stressed that we should now strive to ensure that the promise of publishing the relevant information online is duly kept by the respective corporations. We also have the monumental task of convincing Municipal Corp of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to also agree to publish information contained in an RTI application online. The campaign eventually hopes to achieve parity all across Maharashtra. Read the article related to this here: Read the article related to this here: #RTIBachao: Municipal Corporations in Navi Mumbai, Thane and Mira Bhayandar agree to upload online RTI queries and replies |
 We had some really special seminars in March. We started this month with a very informative seminar conducted by Mr Suleiman Bhimani on the ways to resolve issues with RERA using RTI. The talk was immensely beneficial to a packed audience at our Knowledge Centre, who were very keen on getting guidance from Mr Bhimani's expertise. |
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 We also had another exciting seminar by Mr DG Kale, retired General Manager for Customer Services at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Due to his vast experience in the customer services department, Mr Kale was able to provide essential guidance on the process involved in resolving customer grievances and complaints. He also clarified the various charges a bank imposes on the average customer.
 We ended the month with a short seminar on "Appeals & Complaints under the RTI Act" conducted by CA Rasik Poladia. Mr Poladia's experience as a core committee member of Tarun Mitra Mandal and also as the Group Leader of RTI activities at Andheri RTI Help Center served as a great resource for the attendees. Do invest some time in watching some of our programmes on YouTube and if you reside in Mumbai, get benefitted from our Free Daily Guidance Clinics to resolve your issues relating to Housing, Cooperative Housing Societies, Lok Adalats, RERA, Right to Information (RTI), banking and consumer complaints and many other issues that affect your money and life. These Daily Clinics are conducted by leading activists and experts in their own fields. As always, you will find below a list on activities and programmes conducted in April and watch out for announcements in May by becoming a member and getting on to our mailing list. |
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| Planned Programme: |
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 26 May 2018: RTI as a Constitutional Right : Prof. Dr Shridhar Acharayalu Central Information Commissioner (CIC) Mr Prithviraj Chavan, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra to release of Dr Shridhar Acharayalu's book: Is Bribing A Family Affair. Address by Mr Chavan and Dr Acharayalu to be followed by a discussion led by Shailesh Gandhi and other experts to be confirmed. Venue: Pu La Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Prabhadevi, Mumbai Date & Time: 26 May 2018 from 4pm to 6pm. |
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| Programmes Conducted |
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| 11th April: "RERA: How to file a Complaint & use RTI effectively for obtaining desired information" by Suleiman Bhimani |
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Renowned RTI activist, Suleiman Bhimani was delivered an informative seminar for a packed audience on filing complaints and using RTI effectively for RERA related issues.
Watch video on our YouTube Channel |
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14th April: "What you need to know about the many Bank Charges you pay" by DG Kale
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DG Kale, retired General Manager Customer Services of RBI, gave a very exciting talk on the various bank charges levied on the consumer. He also elaborated on the process of resolving complaints/grievances in a satisfactory manner.
Read: Read: Bank customer needs to follow due process in resolving grievances faster says DG Kale
Watch video on our YouTube Channel |
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28th April: "Appeals & Complaints under the RTI Act" by CA Rasik Poladia
CA Rasik Poladia's vast experience as an RTI activist being a core committee member of Tarun Mitra Mandal for the past 10 years, made him an excellent candidate to deliver a talk on the process of appeals and complaints under the RTI Act.
Watch video on our YouTube Channel |
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| Moneylife TV |
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| The Moneylife TV has reached over 21.50 lakh views with nearly 20,800 active subscribers. You can watch our videos from almost any part of the globe and enrich yourself. If you don't want to miss out on any of our videos then do subscribe to the Moneylife channel on YouTube here. |
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| Even better, you may also become a Member of Moneylife Foundation and join over 85,500 others so that you receive updates to our events, their coverage as well as access to our extremely valuable Credit Helpline and Legal Resource Centre absolutely free. To join now, click here |
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| Helplines |
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| Legal Resource Centre: We have handled 1,630 queries since inception, thanks to the generous help and guidance by senior activists. |
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| Our FREE Credit Helpline has answered over 3,288 cases. Spread the word, so that those with a low score can get help from us. |
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| Remember, you can benefit from our work from all over the globe through our videos and helplines (Credit Helpline and Legal Resource Centre). They are all offered free of charge, but please do reciprocate by introducing our work to at least 10 people and getting them to become members. |
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| Help Your Cause: A good way to start 2018 may be by donating to a cause that takes up issues that affect you, as we do in Moneylife Foundation. Or you can join our efforts by helping create awareness, researching issues or getting people to take advantage of all that we offer. |
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| Donate Online |
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| Thank you for your support and look forward to your good wishes always. |
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| Best regards, |
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| Sucheta Dalal |
| Founder-Trustee, Moneylife Foundation |
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| Trustees: TS Krishnamurthy, Dr KC Chakrabarty, Walter Vieira, Sucheta Dalal, Debashis Basu and Dr Anupam Saraph. Special Invitee: Adv Jamshed Mistry | | | | Moneylife Foundation is registered with the Charity Commissioner of Mumbai, is an Affiliate member of OECD's International Network on Financial Education, is a Supporter Member of Consumers International, Development Partner of Advocates for International Development (A4ID), and is a winner of the 10th MR Pai Memorial Award. | | |  | | | | Donations are eligible for tax benefits under Sec 80G of the Income Tax 1961 (50% tax exemption) and MLF is registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. 80(G) Reg No: DIT(E)/MC/80G/685/2010-11 dated 7.2.11 effective 8.+9.2010 | FCRA Registration No: 083781387 Donate Online | | | |
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