National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) is a campaign that was established in 1996 to push for the creation of a Right to Information Act (RTI) in India.
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Today, the NCPRI engages and interacts with the State to implement the RTI law and to ensure that the Act is not amended or provisions weakened. The Campaign attempts ensure that the law is effective and universally accessible, addressing both individual and social problems.In disseminating the ability to use the RTI, the NCPRI supports the developing of materials related to transparency and governance, the raising of awareness about the fundamental value of information, the conduct of research, and the setting up of information clearing houses. It also helps with the filing of information requests, fighting legal cases, and the holding of public hearings.
More recently, this movement has also campaigned for Grievance redressal bill, Whistleblowers protection bill, Judicial Accountability bill, Lokpal and electoral reforms.
History
The NCPRI has its roots in the work and experiences of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan. The NCPRI was established in 1996 at a gathering of more than a hundred activist organisations. Later that year, The NCPRI along with the Press Council of India drafted the first version of a Right to Information law in India.
Whistleblower Protection Bill
The NCPRI demanded the Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2011, be amended, including by a clearer definition of victimization, protection for persons other than the whistleblowers who provide relevant information, penalty for mala fide revelation of the identity of whistleblowers, a time limit for complaints and provision for filing anonymous complaints.
The NCPRI has steadily campaigned for the passage of the Whistleblower Protection bill since September 2010. As a part of public action for the passage of the bill, families of whistleblowers gathered in Delhi to demand the immediate passage of the bill. The Whistleblower Protection bill was passed on the 21st of February 2014.
Recent Activities
The NCPRI met the Prime Minister on August 19, 2013 to submit a petition seeking deferring amendments related to the exclusion of the political parties from the ambit of the Right to Information Act.
Dhananjay Dubey, brother of murdered whistleblower Satyendra Dubey, and the NCPRI started a petition signed by over 10,000 people demanding the immediate passage of the Whistleblower Protection and Grievance Redress bills.
Members
The movement is a coalition of organisations campaigning for Right to Information including :-