Now, RTI in school textbooks

PIA CHANDRAVARKAR
OCTOBER 19

IT was Maharashtra's law that served as a model for what is today the Right
To Information Act. No wonder the state is now leading the way to introduce
this sunshine legislation to the younger generation.
Come June 2007 and the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher
Secondary Education will become the first to include RTI in the school
curriculum. Civics textbooks for class VI will include a section on RTI, its
uses and benefits, while class X students will get to familiarise themselves
with the practical aspects of preparing RTI applications as a part of their
annual project work.
In class VI, RTI will be a part of the section on citizens' rights and not a
fullfledged chapter unlike other Acts like the Consumer Protection Act,
which is a separate chapter in the class X economics textbook.
"Today, everyone has the opportunity to use RTI. To help in greater
awareness, it is important to begin at a young age," said State Board
Chairman Vasant Kalpande.
"There will be no technical jargon used and we will give the students a
glimpse of the fundamental nature of the Act," Kalpande said.
IT was Maharashtra's law that served as a model for what is today the Right
To Information Act. No won- der the state is now leading the way to
introduce this sunshine legislation to the younger generation. Come June
2007 and the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Sec- ondary
Education will be- come the first to include RTI in the school curricu- lum.
Civics textbooks for class VI will include a sec- tion on RTI, its uses and
benefits, while class X stu- dents will get to familiarise themselves with
the practi- cal aspects of preparing RTI applications as a part of their
annual project work. In class VI, RTI will be a part of the section on citi-
zens' rights and not a full- fledged chapter unlike other Acts like the Con-
sumer Protection Act, which is a separate chapter in the class X economics
textbook. "Today, everyone has the opportunity to use RTI. To help in
greater awareness, it is important to begin at a young age," said State
Board Chairman Vasant Kalpande. "There will be no techni- cal jargon used
and we will give the students a glimpse of the fundamental nature of the
Act," Kalpande said.

Publication : IE; Section : Mumbai News line; Pg: 1; Date: 20/10/06

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