NGO educates slum residents to question govt through RTIs

Stating that it is primarily a petitioning as well as an RTI education programme, Jayaram Venkatesan, convener, Arappor Iyakkam, said, “Through a street play, we taught the residents how to give complaints to various departments and also how to use the RTI. We are planning to conduct similar programmes in 50 slums over the course of the next two months.”

While it is seen that it is the people from economically weaker sections who are mostly misused by the government, he said, “One of the most common complaints we have received is that they have not been able to access pensions. We learnt that the residents have not received the widow’s pension for the last 15 months and we wanted to help them find a solution.”

After the street play, members of the NGO helped the residents write over 14 complaints. “These people are severely affected by delay in services by the government.

Besides, they are not even given reasons for the delay. They are told that sugar and pulses are not available at ration shops but are never told why. Therefore, we have helped write a representation, to make sure they get what they deserve. They need to fight to get rations, so they even refrain from availing it,” said a member of the NGO.

Over the course of this programme, slums in Royapuram, Vyasarpadi and Saidapet will also be covered, the NGO added.