| Dear Moneylifers, |  | |
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| Greetings! |
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It has been Destination Pune for us with two very exciting programmes of Moneylife Foundation in February and early March. We are just back and very
 charged up after listening to a highly stimulating lecture by Justice AP Shah (retd), one of the best and boldest legal minds in India today and one who is willing to speak on issues that others prefer to remain silent about. Justice Shah delivered the RTI Centre's inaugural lecture. It was indeed a rare privilege to hear Justice Shah cover a range of issues including the importance of Right to Information, freedom of speech and expression, role of the media, the judiciary and judicial appointments, political parties and RTI, the right to privacy and the attempt to discard or dilute laws that promote accountability through the non-operationalisation of the Whistle Blowers Act as well as the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act. |
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It was no surprise that Punekars responded to the outstanding lecture with a two-time standing ovation to Justice Shah. I would urge you to listen to the speech yourself in this YouTube video. Mr Shailesh Gandhi was the sootradhar for the event. Read our write ups here…
“Right to freedom of speech & expression is under attack. Citizens need to rise and demand accountability from government,” — Justice AP Shah |
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| Justice Shah's talk, titled "Transparency and Empowerment in Decision-Making are Pillars of a Healthy Democracy" has set the bar very high and has been immensely appreciated by the many organisations that partnered with us to make the event at Symbiosis Vishwabhavan Auditorium a resounding success. |
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Do Read Justice Shah's speech here …
The bureaucracy prefers secrecy, distance and mystification, not fundamentally different from colonial times |
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| Earlier, on 10th February, we had another excellent exposition on the balance between the Right to Privacy and Aadhaar by Central Information Commissioner Prof Dr Shridhar Acharyulu. This was followed by a stimulating panel discussion on RTI, Privacy and Aadhaar by Dr Pralhad Kachare and Dr Anupam Saraph. Do watch this talk on YouTube, I have more on this event a later. |
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The question that many of our attendees asked is what next? How do we keep up the pressure for transparency? Some law students wanted to know how and  where they could learn about the RTI Act. Well, we have an #RTI Bachao Andolan already on and it is led by former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi. The idea is to push our elected representatives to treat the RTI Act and activists with respect and by getting more information out in the public domain and on websites, and thereby putting an end to any scope for blackmail. Let's make this work. Join us live on Wednesday from where ever you are. Tweet and share these details with the hashtag #RTIBachao and let's get more active about making our democracy work!!! |
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| Check details here |
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| In addition, our dynamic Pune advisor, Ms Vinita Deshmukh has plans to help Punekars join the agitation to save Empress Gardens from the clutches of the bureaucracy. Please allow us to keep you posted on this by becoming a member. Click here. Moneylife Foundation's membership is free and very simple. |
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| If you are a Public Information Officer (PIO), we would be delighted to hear from you. Also, those who would like to make the PIOs more responsible, do write to us with your ideas. If you belong to a public sector organisation, then do join us to make governance in India more transparent. Our RTI Centre is being steered by many stalwart activists who would be happy to train PIOs or help in the process of compliance with Sec. 4 to make India a better place. Do connect with us at [email protected] |
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| Programmes Conducted |
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| 5th February: Understanding Basics of RTI Act by Shailesh Gandhi |
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| Mr Shailesh Gandhi addressed students of the Kelkar Education Trust's Vaze College in a programme conducted by the RTI Centre in partnership with Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT). Read: Shailesh Gandhi explains basics of RTI to students of Vaze College Watch the video on our You Tube Channel |
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| 7th February: RTI Bachao by Shailesh Gandhi |
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 Over 45 RTI activists came together to take a strong stand on the constant devaluation of the RTI Act and the propensity of politicians and bureaucrats to label activists seeking legitimate information as blackmailers and extortionists, without making any push to identify or punish those who may, in fact, be guilty of abusing the Act. The #RTIBachao campaign initiated at the meeting seeks better accountability of government and demands that information, as envisaged under Sec 4 of the RTI Act must be put in the public domain. This is an ongoing campaign and you can join us again on 7th March. Read: #RTIBACHAO: Activists join hands to bring transparency at BMC for empowering citizens Watch the video on our You Tube Channel |
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| 10th February: RTI, Privacy and Aadhaar by Prof Dr Sridhar Acharyulu with Dr Pralhad Kachare and Dr Anupam Saraph |
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 “There are two Indian laws that can declare a person socially dead. Aadhaar has created a third civil death for citizens. This is because leakages in Aadhaar data is a reality, no option (from linking Aadhaar) is a reality and that there is no opt out option from Aadhaar,” says Prof M Sridhar Acharyulu, Central Information Commissioner under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. He was speaking at a program on “RTI, Privacy and Aadhaar” organised by Moneylife Foundation’s RTI Centre at Pune. Several RTI activists including former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, Vijay Kumbhar, Vinita Deshmukh, Sulaiman Bhimani, Sanjay Shirodkar, and Moneylife Foundation’s trustees and team had the opportunity to have a detailed discussion with Dr Acharyulu after the event along with our expert panellists Dr Pralhad Kachare and Dr Anupam Saraph. |
| Read: Aadhaar has created third civil death for citizens, says CIC Prof Dr Sridhar Acharyulu Watch the video on our You Tube Channel |
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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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