For the first time during the Maha Kumbh, the Uttar Pradesh government will make people aware of the Right to Information (RTI) on the sands of Sangam. The initiative aims to empower citizens by raising awareness about their rights, enabling them to fight for justice, officials said here on Monday.

All information commissioners of Uttar Pradesh will be present at the Maha Kumbh to inform devotees about the various aspects of RTI. In addition to explaining the concept of RTI, devotees will also be introduced to digital methods for accessing information, they added.

“The government has been spearheading a significant anti-corruption campaign, bringing relief to the public across the state and ensuring greater accountability and transparency among officials. Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s clarion call for digitising the Maha Kumbh, the Information Commission of Uttar Pradesh has also stepped in to take the campaign forward. Hence, their emphasis on the importance of fighting corruption through digital platforms,” officials said.

To facilitate this, a special camp will be set up in the Maha Kumbh Mela area, where digital experts will guide devotees on RTI and how to access it through platforms such as Google, Facebook, X, Instagram, and WhatsApp, they said.

Uttar Pradesh State Information Commissioner Virendra Singh Vats said that RTI is a powerful tool for creating a corruption-free environment in the state.

“Efforts are being made to ensure that the rights of common citizens are protected and that the devotees attending the Maha Kumbh are made aware of the same,” he stated.

He further mentioned that for the first time, efforts on such a large scale are being made to educate devotees about their rights at the Maha Kumbh.

“Devotees will learn how to use their rights effectively, while at the same time realising that in their fight against injustice, they have the government’s backing. Every bit of information related to the RTI will be disseminated to the public, and there will be discussions in which the information commissioners will be engaging with the public,” he stated.

In addition, the opinions of the general public will be gathered. All information commissioners, along with the chief information commissioner, will engage with the devotees to discuss steps that can be taken to enhance the effective use of the RTI.

The State Information Commission will run a campaign to raise awareness of RTI.

The campaign will also engage the public through various books that will spark their interest. There are plans to encourage widespread participation in the RTI initiative.

Vats mentioned that these books will contain valuable material on RTI, which will help common people access the information they are entitled to.