The Right to Information (RTI) Act allows access to information held by all ‘public authorities’, including those that have been constituted or established by the Constitution. This means that Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), which are mentioned in Part IX of the Indian Constitution, are covered by the Act, thereby giving the citizens an additional tool to access information from these local bodies. PRIs function at the village level (Gram Panchayats), block level (Janpad Panchayats) and district level (Zilla Panchayats). The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act enabled decentralized governance through PRIs in rural areas. The right to information imposes a positive duty on government to disseminate information to the people, and extends the right to the people to seek and receive information held by government bodies (and some information from private bodies). Information is disclosed to the public in two different ways—proactively and upon request. The Act provides citizens the right to access government-held information, which includes panchayat information. The right to information provides that people should be able to access information from PRIs upon request, and that PRIs have a duty to proactively publish important information. The Act specifies certain types of information which cannot be given to the public, referred to as ‘exceptions’. Some of the proactive disclosures by the Panchayats for rural development are mentioned in this paper, i.e., National Institute of Rural Development (NRID) and Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY).

Public involvement not only enhances the quality of governance, but also promotes transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government. Citizens need to participate not only at the time of elections but on a day-to-day basis when decisions on policy, laws and schemes are being made, and projects and activities are being implemented. But in reality, how can citizens take part in governance? Now The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) empowers all the citizens of India with the right to access information from the government, subject to the provisions of this Act. Making information available to citizens is simply a part of normal government functioning because the public have a right to know what public officials do with their money and in their name.

Law Review Journal, The Impact, RTI Act, Panchayati Raj, Institutions, The Right to Information, Janpad Panchayats, Zilla Panchayats.