harmony celebrate age january 2012 63

Anand Kumar Soma

LEGAL EAGLE

At 82, S Sitarama Swamy keeps the RTI flame burning, reports Shyamola Khanna

A citizens call

osing ones way in the narrow lanes of Gautam Nagar in Secunderabads Malkajgiri is a surprisingly pleasant experience. Awe-inspiringly clean and green, the maintenance of these lanes is the handiwork of 82 year-old S Sitarama Swamy, a recipient of the Andhra Pradesh governments Lifetime Achievement Award. After 40 years with the Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR)he first started as a 20 year-old Grade A fireman, rising to the level of Driver (A) SpecialSwamy retired in 1988. Since then, he has dedicated all his time to common people. Initially he looked into their water woes and power problems. In 1992, with the help of a few like-minded people, he formed the Consumers Welfare Association, which has since made several representations to the state government and the Centre. The introduction of the Citizens Charter in 2001 offered him a larger scope to deal with the municipal corporation, the police department and the Mandal Revenue Officers (MRO). In 2005, when the Right to Information Act (RTI) came into force, he began to use the platform to further the cause. One doesnt need a degree to argue a case, says Swamy, who spends a great deal of time understanding every case and then prepares his arguments. I have basic education, but through the years I have read so much legal correspondence at the Consumers Association that I have developed a keen eye for detail and a sense of logical conclusion. Experience has made me an almost-lawyer! Of the many battles fought against the cussedness of the establishment, he counts two as his biggest so far. The first, when he fought to register his

local Consumers Welfare Association with the state body. The second was against the injustice of dismantling illegal structures, where the poor were the biggest victims. In 2007, the local High Court gave a ruling that all illegal structures needed to be dismantled. This affected most of the members in his association, who had the relevant permissions but were on the threshold of losing their dwellings. He approached the High Court and exposed the illegal activities of the higher and lower bureaucrats in the Town Planning Department, the Electricity Board, the MRO, and others. After several representations, an order was issued in 2009 to regularise the so-called illegal structures. The affected parties had to pay a penalty under the building penalisation system, but didnt need to worry about losing their dwellings.

This special link has given the local association teeth, as it now has the right to give permission for extensions to buildings, electricity connections, and permissions for bore wells. The local bodies, and related dubious middlemen, have thus been eliminated. In case anyone has issues, theres always the RTI to check any wrongdoing. For his activism, Swamy was sought out for consultation. The Municipal Commissioner asked Swamy and his association to raise awareness in their wards about various environment issues and appeals to keep the city clean. On 18 February 2011, the state recognised his work and presented him with a memento designed as the Lifetime Achievement Award. It rests prominently on his mantelpiece. Swamy credits the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for discipline in his life. To date, he goes to the neighbourhood shakha for pranayam and to meet people. His wife passed away 10 years ago and he lives alone in his little apartment in Malkajgiri, Secunderabad. He has two sons and four daughters; one lives in an apartment on the same floor as his and looks after all his needs. I am disciplined about my diet, as restrictions help me maintain the required balance. I also have a strong sense of nationalism that gives me the courage for my work, says Swamy. Under the aegis of the Malkajgiri CWA, six day centres for senior citizens have been established. Silvers are encouraged to come and spend time here from 9 am to 11 am every day. At present, I am working on putting together a team of young senior citizenspeople who have just retired and have the energy and enthusiasm to volunteer their time for others. I strongly feel that younger people need to come forward and work so the fight can carry on. h

One doesn't need a degree to argue a case. I have read so much legal correspondence... experience has made me an almost-lawyer!
In 2009, Swamys consumers association was registered with the local body. Realising that it would be better to stay connected to the state body, the association put together a petition and asked the local Registrar to make the required change. For months they kept hedging and would not move the file. Finally, Swamy and his team met the State Information Officer to present a copy of the petition. The officer gave the required instructions to the local body and asked for the needful to be done within a week.

62 harmony celebrate age january 2012