The Quarterly Newsletter of Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT)

VOL. 7, ISSUE 1, July 2016

PCGT AT RAJ BHAVAN

Profile
Public Concern for Governance
Trust (PCGT), a registered trust,
founded by concerned citizens,
mobilises public opinion, increases
public participation and activism
towards

promoting

honesty,

transparency and accountability in

governance.

Vision
To strive for good governance,
contain corruption, uphold and
inculcate

values

and

enhance

Sadbhavna in the citizens.

Board of Trustees
CHAIRMAN
Mr. J. F. Ribeiro
MANAGING TRUSTEE
Mr. Dara Gandhy
TRUSTEES
Dr. R. K. Anand
Prasad Chandran
Sanjeev Dayal
Dr. Ratna Magotra
S. S. Puri
M. R. Reddy
Gulam A. Vahanvaty

CGT Trustees, staff and interns had the opportunity to meet the Governor
of Maharashtra, Shri CH Vidyasagar Rao, at the Raj Bhavan on 9th June,
2016.

The Trustees shared with the Hon. Governor strategies to reduce corruption and
suggested that a message should be sent to all IAS, IPS and IFS officers that
they have to set an example for their juniors to uphold the highest standards of
integrity and spirit of service. If they fail in this they should be prepared for early
retirement as provided in the All India Service Rules. Among other suggestions,
the Trustees said that there should be strict adherence to the rule of placing only
Cadre officers in Cadre posts and introducing the systems of empanelment of
officers as is done by the Union Government. The Trustees were certain that
these steps would prevent the corrupt and the incompetent from climbing the
ladder of promotion.
The staff and the interns briefed the Governor about the activities of PCGT
and also voiced their concerns about issues of governance like implementation
of Right to Public Services Act, waste segregation under the Swacch Bharat
Abhiyan, gender equality and so on. The Governor suggested that PCGT should
conduct a survey to inquire about washroom facilities for women police personnel
at every police station in Mumbai. The interns followed on the suggestion with
enthusiasm and have visited all 94 police stations to assess the available facilities.
They have compiled the report along with suggestions for improvements. PCGT
has sent the report to the Hon. Governor. Hon. Governor has agreed to take the
process further to ensure adequate washrooms wherever necessary.

PUBLIC CONCERN

VOL. 7, ISSUE 1, July 2016

VOICES
EDITORIAL

Escaping the Black Holes.

e have placed great faith in

youth as the future leaders
in good governance as is
evident in this newsletter. The young
team at the PCGT along with interns
and volunteers planned and executed a
spirited campaign in the city educating
the public on Right to Information (RTI)
and Right to Public Service (RTPS)
Acts of Government of Maharashtra.
They also met Hon. Governor of
Maharashtra, Shri CH Vidyasagar Rao,
along with the Chairman Mr. Ribeiro
and the Trustees of PCGT. While the
young interns were visibly excited by
the opportunity, the Hon. Governor
not only interacted with the youth but
also showed his sensitivity to women
issues by giving them a project to study
availability of decent toilets for the
women officers and constabulary in the
police stations.
The idealism of the young along with
their raw energy and keen desire to
do something positive in the society
at times intimidates. We keep reading
reports about many juveniles sucked
into black holes of heinous crime,
lawlessness and myriad scams. It is
a huge challenge for the society to
keep alive the idealism of the younger
generation and enable the youth to
play its role in the future of the nation.
The challenge is especially for those
who wish to see themselves in the
role of mentors to young students and
professionals and groom them for good
governance in an equal and inclusive
society.

www.pcgt.org

The hope came through a recent

statement of the eminent physicist,
Stephen Hawking. Black holes
in fact aren't as "black" as people
thought and could be a way of getting
through to an alternative universe,
he said optimistically at a conference
in Stockholm. Youth, however, have
no alternative space to escape to.
They will have to learn to stick to the
narrow path of truth and honesty even
as they look starry eyed at the new
opportunities. Focus on development
and economic upsurge will provide a
secure environment and it is up to them
to shed cynicism and remain steady in
the course. That they do not get lost in
the labyrinthine materialistic world will
be entirely up to the intellectual, moral
and ethical strengths they invest in
now.
Good monsoon cheer is wished to the
readers
God grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change, the courage
to change the things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference...
Reinhold Niebuhr
Ratna Magotra

******

WELCOME
MR. SANJEEV DAYAL

CGT is extremely pleased

and honoured
to welcome Mr. Sanjeev Dayal, retired
DGP Maharashtra, on
the Board of Trustees.
It is indeed a privilege
to have such an eminent personality
on Board. Mr. Dayal joined IPS in 1977
and after training worked as ASP at
Nanded. On promotion, he worked as
Additional SP Nashik, DCP Mumbai, SP
Latur, SP Nanded, Assistant Director
IB and then SP Amravati before being
promoted as DIG when he worked as
Addl. CP Mumbai and then DIG SPG.

Later, after promotion as IG SPG, he

was appointed Joint Commissioner
Mumbai and then Director MPA. On
promotion as Addl. DG, he worked in
office of DGP first as Additional DGP
Law and Order and then Addl. DG
Special Operations. He was appointed
as CP Mumbai in May 2010 and
remained in that post till February 2011
when he was promoted as DG and
MD Police Housing Corporation and
then as DG ACB. He was appointed
as DGP Maharashtra on 31st July,
2012 and remained on that post till his
superannuation on 30th September,
2015.

******

ADIEU JINAL

t was a sad day for PCGT when Ms.

Jinal Sanghvi, who gave unstinted
voluntary help for the last four years,
and later joined as a full time Accounts
Executive, left to pursue her dreams
of doing social work for the villagers.
PCGT will sorely miss her but wish her
every success in fulfilling her dreams.

******

INTERNS SPEAK

credible and friendly organization, PCGT went beyond the

needful to make me involved
and comfortable. We learned about RTI
and RTPS Acts and mostly worked for
the YFG Good Governance Campaign.
Ms. Jinal is not just a boss but an
efficient leader. The few criticisms I did
have were the lack of formality while
confirming the internship. An email
would have been more professional
perhaps. Also I think if the volunteers
had been individually vetted out and
then chosen it would have helped keep
the mischief mongers out. Overall it was
an excellent learning experience. From
free reference material to interacting
with an excellent and diverse Panel of
Trustees, our comforts were laudable.
PCGT has a very warm environment,
perfect for helping an individual grow in
confidence as well as intellect. Looking
forward to interacting with PCGT again!
Pooja Agarwal
Government Law College

PUBLIC CONCERN

VOL. 7, ISSUE 1, July 2016

PCGT PUNE
of PCGT is to address issues of public
concern by creating awareness about
the rights and duties of citizens, their
grievances, educating people about
RTI, tackling corruption and sensitizing
as well as educating government
employees.
Shailesh Gandhi lighting the lamp

LS, Pune in collaboration with

PCGT, Pune Chapter organized
a public lecture cum workshop
on Act 21 of 2006: The Maharashtra
Government Servants Regulation of
Transfers and Prevention of Delay in
Discharge of Official Duties Act on
27th June, 2016 at SLS, Pune.

Mr. Satish Khot informed the audience

that Mr. Shailesh Gandhi was a part
of national RTI Movement and was
involved in drafting the RTI Act. He
took land mark decisions on RTI Act
and resolved over 20,000 cases in
record three years and nine months.
He was conferred with Nani Palkhiwala
Civil Liberties Award.

The Chief Guest and Resource

Person for the event was Mr. Shailesh
Gandhi, Former Chief Information
Commissioner of GOI and an RTI
Activist.
The programme commenced with the
lighting of lamp by the dignitaries on the
dais including Chief Guest, Mr. Shailesh
Gandhi, Mr. S. C. Nagpal, Chairman,
PCGT, Pune Chapter, Mr. D.V.R. Rao,
Member, PCGT, Pune Chapter, Mr.
Satish Khot, Vice Chairman, PCGT,
Pune Chapter, Dr. Gurpur, Dr. Bindu
Ronald, Deputy Director, SLS, Pune.
Dr. Gurpur in her welcome address said
that information empowers individuals.
She emphasized that in democratic
service, the Right to Information (RTI)
Act has transformed the face of the
country by leading it from being a
passive society to an active society
by giving rights and privileges to the
common man through democratic
governance. She said that public
intellectualism has been in the DNA of
SLS, Pune.
Mr. D.V.R. Rao said, What we need
today is Less Government and More
Governance. He said, The mission

the audience of Sections 2, 4, 10 and

11 of the Act.
Introducing the Ghoos ko Ghusa
campaign to kick out bribe, started by
PCGT, Mr. Gandhi spoke about the
enforcement of Section 9, which talks
of delegation of powers. This section
states that no government servant can
keep a file for more than 7 working days
to deal with the issue more commonly
known as passing the paper. Mr.
Gandhi asserted that RTI works
because there are personal penalties.
However, this Act talks about initiating
disciplinary action for failure and not
mere financial penalties. His advice
to the youth was to Stop cribbing and
start acting.
Mr. Satish Khot then responded
to several questions raised by the
audience and assured their faith in the
campaign.

Shailesh Gandhi addressing the audience

Mr.

S.

C.

Nagpal

delivered

the

presidential address and concluding

remarks. By narrating a mythological
tale, he emphasized the importance of
truth in governance. In another tale, he
reflected on the superiority of capability
over incapability. With these words, he
Section of the audience

Mr. Shailesh Gandhi began by quoting

Lokmanya Tilak, Swarajya (SelfRule)
is my birth right and I shall have it. He
said that on 15th August, 1947 India got
independence but Swaraj never came
to us. This was followed by rhetorical
questions to the audience. He said
that RTI recognizes the sovereignty of
individual citizens.
He focused on the empowerment of
a single individual and introduced the
subject of Act 21 of 2006. He called
it a confidential act since it remains
unknown to the people. He apprised

encouraged the audience to pursue the

matter and ensure the implementation
of Act 21 of 2006.
The event concluded with the vote of
thanks by Dr. Bindu Ronald followed by
National Anthem.

Dignitaries on the Dais

www.pcgt.org

PUBLIC CONCERN

VOL. 7, ISSUE 1, July 2016

YOUTH FOR GOVERNANCE

Good Governance
Campaign

he Good Governance Campaign

was conducted from June 1,
2016 to June 12, 2016 in the
city of Mumbai at Sion-Antop Hill,
Kukriya Agar Junction, Gandhi Market,
Dadar Station, Byculla Station, Lower
Parel Station, Worli Sea Face, Marine
Drive, Azad Maidan, CST Mumbai,
Kurla Station and Matunga Five
Gardens, with a motive to promote
Right to Information and Right to
Public Services as tools of Good
Governance. The main objective of
the campaign was to create public

Volunteer Feedback

CGT's Good Governance

campaign was a great initiative
to awaken the masses towards
their rights - RTI and RTPS, as many
are still skeptical to question the
governance and the rest may not know
the right way to do it. The response
was great as many stepped ahead
to voice out their issues and to know
about availing these benefits. Kudos
to PCGT for conducting such drives !!
- Rajiv Shinde (Student Volunteer)

******

t was a wonderful campaign.

I actually got to know about RTI
and RTPS, how to file it and to
whom we can file it. I also got
more information about the website
aaplesarkar. I would love to be a part
of this campaign again and again.
- Prince Upadhyay (NSS Volunteer)

******

M
awareness and to advocate strong
sense of responsibility towards zero
tolerance for corruption. Crowded
localities especially local railway
stations and communities were
chosen to perform street plays and
distribute leaflets in the nearby areas
for maximum reach. The volunteers
were also displaying posters that
were thought-provoking and gave
information about RTI and RTPS.

y first day at PCGT was the

commemoration of the Good
Governance Campaign. The
campaign was to spread the word on
good governance and to go about town
and educate people regarding the RTI
and RTPS Acts.
It was a wonderful experience to
commence our internship and these
five days made us realise about the
cause and values that PCGT stood
for and how the organisation went
far and beyond to make sure that the
campaign was a success. We enjoyed
interacting with people on a one to one
basis and to tell them about the acts.
The staff showed immense faith to
allow us to talk to the people in spite of
it being the second day at work.
- Nainisha Oza
(Student Intern at PCGT)

www.pcgt.org

Dialogue With
Commissioner of Police
Responsible Youth, Safer City

CGT organised a dialogue with

the Commissioner of Police
- Mr. Datta Padsalgikar on
Responsible Youth Safer City on the
5th of July, 2016, at Nehru Planetarium,
to provide a platform for the youth
to interact with the Commissioner to
understand their role as responsible
citizens to make Mumbai city safe.
The youth voiced their opinions and
concerns pertaining to issues that
bothered them and Mr. Padsalgikar
assured them with suitable responses.
Mr Padsalgikar also discussed future
projects that would involve the youth
working alongside the police to
address the issues of traffic. Youth
from various colleges in Mumbai
attended this event. The Commissioner
of Police, Mr. Datta Padsalgikar started
off by addressing the Trustees as
well as by acknowledging the Trusts
efforts to promote good governance.
He particularly appreciated the team
for conducting the study of Washrooms
and Restrooms for Women Police
Personnel. He addressed the youth
as the smarter generation and also
emphasized that a city can be safe
and developed only when it is aided
by public participation and cooperation.
He gave three main aspects where the
youth could contribute-i) keeping eyes
and ears open, notice something
say something in order to reduce the
Contd. on Page 5

PUBLIC CONCERN

VOL. 7, ISSUE 1, July 2016

KUCHH AUR
Contd. from Page 4
response time and enable swift actions
against mishaps, ii) be aware of the
content uploaded on social media
as well as be conscious and alert
about activities on social platform, iii)
avoid falling for schemes that make
false claims of doubling money, also
make sure the elderly dont fall in
such traps. He also mentioned that
after the monsoons are over, they

wish to engage young volunteers

in a programme related to traffic
regulations.

Mr. Padsalgikar graciously heard them

out and also ensured that if reported,
action will be guaranteed.

The interaction that followed brought

out issues like indiscipline among
citizens with regard to following
traffic rules, substance abuse and
youth, radicalism and youth, drinking
and driving and so on. The young
students put forth issues that bothered
them in and around their college.

***********************************************
My committee of Harbingers of
Change undertook tree plantation,
tied eco friendly rakhis to the trees,
celebrated womens day and save
electricity and save water project
and drawing competition and poster
making through the Kuchh Aur
programme.
- Student - Ruchi Shukla - Std. VIII

uchh Aur project has touched

10,000+ little lives in the
academic year 2015-2016.
We at PCGT aim to reach out to as
many children as we can through
Movie screenings, PTA sessions,
Community sessions and Inter school
competitions Some of the feedbacks
that we received are as under :

When my friends see me do such

good work, they also get motivated
to join. Thus we work together and
make a better group.
Student - Drasti Jethwa

This year onward we have decided

to modify our strategy. The idea is to
now focus on less number of students
but in turn undertake more intensive
follow-up with them. This academic
year has been agged off successfully,
starting with some schools in South
Mumbai.
Around 1000 children have already
been a part of our sessions so far
and given us a very satisfying
response. We have also begun tree
plantation drives at various schools
in collaboration with the BMC Garden
Department to promote a greener
city and to inculcate values of
environmental conservation.

www.pcgt.org

PUBLIC CONCERN

ender Equality also known

as gender egalitarianism,
sexual equality or equality
of the genders, refers to the view
that men and women should receive
equal treatment, and should not be
discriminated based on gender, unless
there is a sound biological reason
for different treatment. Just and fair
treatment to everybody is the 'rule of
law'. 'Equality before law and equal
treatment / protection of law' is the
entitlement of every person, whatever
the gender may be.
However, it is a notorious fact
that women in India have been
discriminated in every aspect of
life, but particularly in the areas of
education, employment, law and
marriage. A spring cannot rise above
its source. Our society itself is steeped
in inequality. Social norms in the
society not only discriminate against
each other; these turn gender specific
when men discriminate against women
and children. It is a pity that a five
thousand year old civilization that
gave the world purity of metaphysical
thought, major religions, exquisite
silks and textiles, ablest craftsmen,
mathematicians, scientist et al,
today suffers from the problems of
illiteracy, population explosion and
unemployment. The root cause of the
problem is lack of education to prepare
a citizen to face the changing world
in which he or she lives. Compulsory
and quality education, in particular
of a girl child would have been the
best contraceptive. With less numbers
to feed, there would not have been
that serious and chronic problem of
unemployment. Scientific studies have
revealed that except for biological
differences, there are no other
differences between men and women.
All other differences are cultural.
www.pcgt.org

VOL. 7, ISSUE 1, July 2016

GENDER EQUALITY
When education to girls is denied,
all places of importance too get
denied to them. They thus have no
role in decision making. If one is not
consulted for a long time, one ceases
to have any opinion. This is broadly
true of womenfolk in the country.
Majority of them plod along with men
even in vital areas of their exclusive
concern. The voting patterns too
are generally influenced by the men
folk. Lack of education renders them
ineligible for knowledge related jobs.
Our public institutions are insensitive to
the needs of the public in general and
women in particular. Basic amenities
that cater to girls and women - like
provision of separate toilets - too
are denied with impunity. Inequality
becomes manifest in our society,
where virginal purity is synonymous
with izzat or honour. Any sexual
relationship either by design or by
accident or as a result of crime, if so
revealed, clouds her future married life.
The stigma does not attach to man
with equal force.
All human beings are born equal.
The fact is, there are individual
differences. These differences have
been accentuated between men and
women by the society so that women
can be treated as a special class or
species - an inferior species, born to
serve, love, procreate, cook and look
after men. This attitude is manifest
in the men folk, in everyday life. That
is why women in employment suffer
double jeopardy. They have to get
up early in the morning, cook food
for the entire family, help children
dress up to go to school, proceed
to office; on return again cook, feed
children/husband; teach children et
al. This enormous burden is patently
discriminatory if and when the husband

- in his early childhood - was raised

to believe that the household chores
were not his responsibility. Mercifully,
however, in educated families such
a trend is declining; and household
work is participative rather than gender
specific.
As more and more women are
empowered through education, they
are able to confront their sense of
shame, humiliation and outrage.
Hitherto suppressed violence against
women is gradually coning out of
the closed doors of the family. They
are challenging the coercive and
compulsive social structure that has
kept them tied to traditions that are
calculated to perpetuate discrimination
and deny equality, which ought to have
been their birth right.
"A society that has to pay people
to stop murdering female children
and to defecate in the right places
has probably already lost the plot
somewhere. Incentives may be a
short-term palliative, but they can also
be corrosive in the long run. They
instrumentalize everything and create
a norm that the only reason to do
even the right thing is money. Hardly a
social transformation", observes Pratap
Bhanu Mehta.
Time has come to think our thoughts
and grapple with multiple ideas that
are competing with each other to bring
about a much needed change.

******

S. S. Puri

"

Gender Equality is more than a

goal in itself. It is a precondition
for meeting the challenge
of reducing poverty, promoting
sustainable development and building
good governance."
- Kofi Annan

PUBLIC CONCERN

VOL. 7, ISSUE 1, July 2016

GET INFORMED

RTI Clinics In Mumbai

PCGT : Every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

For appointments and details call : 23526426 / 23526452.
RTI HELPLINE NO.: 93 2288 2288
Address : B/2, Mahalaxmi Chambers,

22,Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai-400026.
Email : publicconcern@gmail.com Vist us at www.pcgt.org

Giants International Charitable Trust : 1st & 3rd Monday of

every month between 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.
For appointments and details call 23679698
Address: Orient Club., 2nd Floor,

9, Chowpatty Sea Face, Mumbai-400007
Email: giantwld@mtnl.net.in
Visit us at www.giantinternational.org

BCAS Foundation : 2nd, 3rd & 4th Saturday of every month

between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.
For appointments and details call 66595601-05
Address: 7, Jolly Bhavan No.2, Ground Floor,

New Marine Lines, Mumbai-400020
Email: bca@bcasonline.org
Visit us at www.bcasonline.org

Indian Merchants Chamber 1st & 3rd Wednesday of every

month from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Resource Person: Mr. S. K. Nangia
For appointments and details call 22046633
Address: IMC Building, Churchgate, Mumbai-400 020

RTI Clinics In Pune

Pune Municipal Council : Every Friday between 11.00 a.m.

and 2.00 p.m.
For appointments and details call
Mr. Marutirao Sail Tel. 020 - 64005613
Address: Nagrik Suvidha Kendra, Pune Municipal Council,

Shivaji Nagar, Pune-411005
Email : pcgt@rediffmail.com Visit us at www.pcgt.org

PCGT: Every Saturday between 10.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.

For appointments and details call
C. R. Kutpelli Tel. 020 - 64005613
Address: No 3, Thube Park, 16 Shivaji Nagar,
Pune-411005
Email: pcgtpune@rediffmail.com Visit us at www.pcgt.org
Printed & Published by Shri J. F. Ribeiro on behalf of Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT) and Printed at Finesse Graphics & Prints
Pvt. Ltd., 309, Parvati Industrial Premises, Sun Mill Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400 013. Tel. Nos.: 24961685/24961605 Fax No.: 24962297
Published at Public Concern for Goverance Trust, B/2, Mahalaxmi Chambers, 22, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai-400 026. Editor: Dr. Ratna Magotra
www.pcgt.org

PUBLIC CONCERN

VOL. 7, ISSUE 1, July 2016

FRIEND / VOLUNTEER WORK FORM

Name:

I would like to volunteer with PCGT : YES NO

From home At office (specify time)
Skills that I would like to contribute:
I would like to be involved in the following projects of PCGT:
RTI
Corruption Hatayenge
Kuchh Aur

Address:

Email:
Tel. No.

Fax No:

Mobile:
Please join PCGT. There are three options :
l Corpus Donation
l "I Bless You" -

Signature

Date:

DONOR CATEGORY

Note : Cheques to be drawn in favour of

` 100,000 and above

` 25,000 and above
` 10,000 and above

l "I Support You"
l Annual Supporter
` 200
Admission Fees
`
300
Annual Subscription
Corpus Donation may be chosen for any of the following
Corpus Funds :
l B. G. Deshmukh Memorial Corpus Fund
l Corruption Hatayenge Corpus Fund
l RTI-NV Corpus Fund
l Kuchh Aur Corpus Fund
l General Corpus Fund

Public Concern for Governance Trust.

Detach & send form to:

Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT)
B/2, Mahalaxmi Chambers,
22, Bhulabhai Desai Road,
Mumbai - 400026
Tel.: (022) 23526426
Email: publicconcern@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/PCGT
Registration No. E-20164 (Mumbai)
(The BOMBAY PUBLIC TRUST ACT, 1950)

(Please note that donations to Public Concern for Governance Trust

qualify for deduction u/s. 80G(5) (VI) of the Income Tax Act, 1961)
tear along this line

BOOK POST

PUBLIC CONCERN
C/o. Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT)
B/2, Mahalaxmi Chambers,
22, Bhulabhai Desai Road,
Mumbai 400 026.

To

Registration No. E-20164 (Mumbai)

(THE BOMBAY PUBLIC TRUST ACT, 1950)

www.pcgt.org