He took to wildlife activism 15 years ago, adding RTI activism is due course. Through its use he clinically goes after departments lobbing a volley of uncomfortable questions on the duties and responsibilities of the senior officials. Before he started his RTI activism in 2006, Biswajit was already a famous name in country's wildlife conservation circles for his efforts in saving marine turtles as well as other wildlife animals.
In 2007, his RTI applications brought out a mini scandal in State forest department as it was revealed that senior officials were riding vehicles given by mining companies for "protection of plantation". In another successful RTI case last year, his application for information about the procedures of transfer of forest rangers led to proper streamlining of the system. Another area has been selling of Indian Made Foreign Liquor by shops above the maximum retail price indicated on the bottle where following his application to the excise commissioner, cases were booked against shopkeepers who sold above MRP. From this year the department has made it mandatory that no shopkeepers can sell above MRP while asking them to display boards indicating prices of different liquors. Similarly, his RTI application to the police department about temporary road barriers on highways forced the DGP to issue a circular which saw demolition of the barriers. Read the full report here.
Source: National RTI Forum.
