RTI can help bridge gap between poor & affluent: Hazare

Mumbai, Oct 12 (UNI) The Right to Information Act (RTI) can be used as an effective tool to bridge the gap between poor and affluent, observed noted social worker Anna Hazare here today.

It can also help curb corruption and create a strong India, Mr Hazare said while addressing media persons after the screening of a documentary 'Right to Information', which was held for press to mark the completion of two years of the working of RTI.

The effectiveness of the enshrined Act is lost if its importance does not reach upto the last man. Right to Information Act holds hopes for every citizen, as he can exercise his right to know how his own money is being spent by the government as he is the real owner of the coffers of the government, he said.

He lamented that the RTI was not there at the time when India became a republic and democratic in 1950 itself.

The documentary was produced by Films Division and directed by Satish Shinde. Mr Hazare also released a compact disc of the documentary.

Lauding the efforts of Films Division in popularising the Right to Information, the activist urged the authorities to make all-out efforts to spread the message of Right to Information to every hamlet and hutment by bringing out phamplets, folders and booklets.

The documentary will be dubbed in 12 languages and circulated throughout the country.

UNI