One RTI at a Time: My Path With the People

“Rights are protected not by law, but by the social and moral conscience of society.” (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar)

Subash never imagined that a single workshop could change the course of his life. Yet, in 2013, during his college days at Hamidiya College in Bhopal, a session on the Right to Information (RTI) by Prashant Dubey and Roli Shivhare from Youngshala did exactly that.

During those days, Subash often saw his classmates struggling with a pile of documents - scholarship forms, certificates, or admission-related papers. He would wonder, “Is it really so difficult to get government documents made?” But the workshop opened new doors for him. For the first time, he realized that ordinary citizens could demand transparency, question authorities, and claim their rights. That day, he decided: he would learn to use RTI and government helpline, and then use that knowledge to help others.

Since then, Subash has helped people file over 1,200 RTIs, both individually and through camps. What began as assisting fellow students soon grew into something much larger. He started working with Youngshala, organizing “RTI jamghats” in different parts of Bhopal. At first, people were hesitant to attend, but they gradually began to share their struggles: ration cards that never arrived, pensions stuck for months, electricity bills wrongly inflated, scholarships that simply disappeared. Together, they filed RTIs, and slowly, people’s confidence grew - they began to see that the government responded when formally asked.

One of Subash’s key motivations has been to bridge the gap between RTI and those who truly need it. To achieve this, he began visiting neighborhoods and “pithos,” where daily wage laborers gather. He explained government services - such as the 181 Mahila Helpline, the online RTI portal, and grievance redressal systems, in simple language, guiding people through confusing procedures. Subash believed that every individual, regardless of caste, class, religion, or economic status, should be able to claim their rights. But his mission went beyond simply helping people; he aimed to empower them to assert and access what was legally theirs.

A turning point in his journey came through his association with We The People Abhiyan (WTPA). The trainings taught him to simplify legal language, draft effective applications, and connect laws to real-life struggles. He was particularly impressed with Jan Collective, an online, issue-based session conducted on the last Saturday of every month. Subash says, “I feel that the Jan Collective is excellent in itself. It provides a great opportunity for networking, gaining knowledge, and bringing people together in one space.” 

These learnings strengthened him for the more difficult situations ahead - times when issues went beyond documents and paperwork. From preventing child marriages to helping abandoned families, Subash has intervened in many moments when silence would have meant harm. Each case reinforced his belief that the fight for rights is not just about forms and IDs; it’s about protecting dignity and saving lives.

Challenges, of course, never end. Bureaucracy moves slowly, officers delay files, and sometimes ask for bribes. In such times, knowledge becomes his greatest strength, and he works tirelessly to spread it. He also started an Instagram page called EPost Bhopal, regularly posting about job vacancies and government schemes. Today, over 5,500 young people follow it, and at least 55 have found jobs through these updates.

Whether it’s helping someone get their ration card, ensuring pensions reach the elderly, or connecting youth to opportunities, Subash continually invests in initiatives that simplify problems and make rights accessible to all. His dream is simple: that women, children, and marginalized communities can live with dignity, knowing and claiming their rights without fear. Until then, he will keep going - one RTI, one camp, one conversation at a time.

The above story has been written and published with the explicit consent of the individual involved. All facts presented are based on WTPA's direct interaction with the individual, ensuring accuracy and integrity in our reporting.