Whose Information Counts?

October 24th was the World Development Information Day. 

The emphasis in many circles is on getting development information across to NGOs and through them the marginalized. In some countries like India there is Right to Information Act which helps citizens access information. 

The flip side is how does one ensure that the needs and interests of marginalized groups shape legislation, policies and plans of governments and donors. There are different options:

i) Publish white papers of these documents in local language newspapers and solicit comments. This will work well where literacy levels are high and there are no gender differences in literacy rates. 

ii) Present main features of these documents in local language Television and Radio (including community radio) and invite comments. This will work well where reach of Televisions and Radios is high

iii) Call selected leaders of federation to national capital and consult them on their needs and interests with regard to the proposed legislation, policy or plan. The constraint is that women may not be able to come in equal numbers to men, as well as people with differential abilities.  

iv) Have focus group discussions with marginalized sections- in particular federations and local governments- before framing the white papers. This is ideal, but care has to be taken that diversity amongst the poor in terms of caste, ethnicity, gender, minority, differential ability, age etc is captured.  

v) Pass Right to Participation Act which makes it mandatory to get inputs from marginalised before drafting white papers

By Ranjani K. Murthy