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Nation-wide `drive against bribe' campaign kicks off in Pink City

Special Correspondent

Assistance centre set up to help common man while dealing with Government

JAIPUR: An assistance centre for common citizens to help them solve their day-to-day problems in dealing with the Government by exercising the right to information was established near the District Collectorate here on Saturday as part of the nation-wide "Drive against Bribe" campaign. The kiosk was inaugurated with a call to eliminate the scourge of bribe from public life.

Noted social activist and Magsaysay Award winner Aruna Roy, flagging off the campaign, said the public at large should make use of the Right to Information Act to expose irregularities and corruption in Government offices and spread awareness among fellow-citizens about the path-breaking law. "There is no need to pay bribe to Government officials. This law is enough to ensure their accountability," she said.

The kiosk, set up in the sprawling park at the roundabout in front of Collectorate, was the hub of activity on Saturday morning with a large number of activists, lawyers from the nearby courts and curious onlookers gathering at the spot. After a puppet show highlighting the significance of right to information, the volunteers offered to advise people about the procedure and help them draft and file applications.

Renuka Pamecha of Suchana Evum Rozgar Ka Adhikar Abhiyan said the assistance centre would function till July 15, encouraging the people to take the initiative for ending the culture of paying bribes and use the RTI Act for exposing corruption in Government offices.

Vijay Goel, an activist from the Budget Analysis Rajasthan Centre, said nearly 300 people had visited the centre by evening and a dozen of them filed their applications with the assistance of volunteers. About 75 persons took the proforma of application with the plan to file it next week.

Ms. Pamecha said that in addition to the posters and banners at the venue, music and theatre shows would be used to spread the message of the campaign.

A large number of civil rights organisations and non-Government organisations have come together in Rajasthan to launch the fortnight-long campaign and establish similar assistance-cum-advisory centres in Ajmer, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Bhim, Bikaner, Nokha, Beawar, Abu Road, Badesar, Jodhpur, Kota and Karauli.

The State Government has reportedly instructed all Collectors to make arrangements to deal with the large number of applications expected to be filed.

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