Arvind Kejriwal’s work with the Right to Information (RTI) was the foundation of his public life long before he entered politics. His efforts were primarily channeled through his organization, Parivartan (founded in 1999), and focused on using transparency to fight “everyday corruption.”
His major accomplishments through RTI include:
1. Exposing the Ration Distribution Scam
In 2003, Parivartan used RTI to access the sale registers of local ration shops in Delhi. They discovered that nearly 90% of the food grains meant for the poor were being siphoned off and sold in the open market. By comparing government records with the empty bags of residents, they proved that shopkeepers were forging signatures to steal subsidized food.
2. Conducting “Social Audits” of Public Works
Kejriwal pioneered the concept of a “social audit” in the Sundarnagari area of Delhi.
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The Process: He used the Delhi RTI Act (2001) to obtain contracts and payment records for 64 local construction projects (roads, drains, etc.).
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The Result: Residents walked to the sites with the official documents in hand and found that most of the “completed” work existed only on paper. They uncovered misappropriations worth approximately ₹7 million, leading to a public hearing (Jan Sunwai) where officials were held directly accountable.
3. Preventing Water Privatization
In 2005, through RTI applications, Kejriwal obtained correspondence between the Delhi government and the World Bank.The documents revealed a plan to privatize Delhi’s water supply, which activists argued would have hiked tariffs nearly ten-fold. The resulting public outcry and transparency-driven campaign eventually forced the government to stall the project.
4. Direct Assistance to Citizens
Parivartan helped thousands of ordinary citizens get their work done without paying bribes:
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Electricity & Tax: They set up “bribe-free” zones outside government offices, using RTI threats to ensure files (like electricity connections or tax refunds) moved without extra payments.
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The “Nannu” Case: A famous example involved a poor laborer named Nannu who hadn’t received his ration card for months. After filing an RTI asking which officials were responsible for the delay, his card was issued within days.
5. National Recognition: Ramon Magsaysay Award
In 2006, Kejriwal received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership (often called Asia’s Nobel Prize).The citation specifically recognized him for:
“Activating India’s Right-to-Information movement at the grassroots, empowering New Delhi’s poorest citizens to fight corruption by holding government answerable to the people.”
He later used the award money to start the Public Cause Research Foundation, which continued to campaign for the Jan Lokpal Bill and stronger transparency laws.