The people’s movements for Right to Information in different parts of the country are slowly gaining momentum In India. In States like – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnatak & Tamilnadu the state governments succumbed to the public pressure out of the movements and enacted laws on Right to Information. The countrywide campaigns on the issue of right to information have at last yielded result. The Central Government on 6^th January’ 2003 Passed the Freedom of Information Act – 2002 . The irony of the fact is that "Orissa", well known for its poverty, drought, starvation deaths, and violation of human rights and perpetuation of rampant corruption at all levels is lagging behind in ensuring Right to Information to it’s people.

Electoral Reform is the need of the hour in order to facilitate people’s involvement not only to cast their votes, but also to become a part and parcel of the entire electoral process and cooperate with the Government as responsible citizens. In this backdrop People’s Cultural Center (PECUC), Bhubaneswar & The Commonwealth Human Rights initiative (CHRI), New Delhi have jointly made a small but meaningful beginning to sensitize & mobilize people of different walks of life in Orissa on the issue of "Right to Information & Electoral Reforms". People’s Cultural Centre(PECUC), will act as the coordinating agency for this ABHIJAN in the state. An 11 members core committee was formed to govern and facilitate the JAA. CHRI ,New Delhi as the coorganisor of the workshop and one of the initiators of the process was requested to provide all possible support and cooperation .

• Strengthening and Promotion of Self Governance with a view to further democratize the polity at all levels.
• Initiating a process to empower the community for access to Development
• Campaign and promotion of suitable Electoral reforms
• Campaign for promotion of Right to Information with a view to bring about an open , transparent ,accountable and responsive order of Governance
• Protection and promotion of human rights

JAA’s TARGET GROUPS

NGOs , Media ( Print and Electronic ) , Panchayatiraj Functionaries , Political Parties, Legal Practitioners , Academicians etc.

• Less Clarity on Voter's Right
• Lack of Knowledge on Freedom of Information Act, Feb.2003
• Lack of Knowledge on Recent Supreme Court Judgement on Electoral Reform and Right To Information
• Absence of Orissa Right to Information Act.
• Lack of Political Will to enact the State Act.
• Lack of sensitivity in the media to address the problem in a larger way
• Lack of awareness at the PRI functionaries level
• More over Lack of Common Platform at Different Levels to share and address various problems related to Right to Information and Electoral Reform

JAA’s Future plans

• District level workshops on Right to Information and Electoral Reform
• Formation of District Level core team with the representation of eminent personalities in Judiciary , Academics , Media , NGO , Bureaucracy etc.
• Advocacy for Right to Information and Electoral Reforms through state level workshops / seminars
• Preparation and circulation of appropriate material in local language ( Oriya )
• Training and Orientation to state and district level facilitators
• Identification of volunteers/activists at different level and empowering them to take forward this Abhijan as people’s campaign in long term basis.
• Initiate Election Watch
• Dialogue with State Machinery and District Machinery/Local authorities regarding Electoral Reform and Right to Information.
• Publication of quarterly News Bulletin highlighting on Development Issues in different constituencies and the role of elected representatives and aspirants(Oriya &English)
• And shall take up other activities as per requirement of members and decision by the core team./Decisions taken in different workshops/consultations.

Jana Adhikar Abhijan
State Secretariat
C/O – People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC)
H.No. - VII-H-26,Sailashree Vihar
Bhubaneswar-21,Orissa,INDIA
Tel-Fax-0674 -2740432
E-mail –pecuc@hotmail.com
Jabhijan03@rediffmail.com