Akhil Gogoi is the most well-known RTI (Right to Information) activist of Assam. For his contribution to exposing government corruption in Assam through RTI, Akhil Gogoi has been felicitated with various prestigious awards such as the Shanmugam Manjunath Integrity Award and the first-ever national RTI award.
Akhil Gogoi, secretary of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) , had unearthed two scams running into Rs 35 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. The data obtained through RTI revealed two scams under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY). Under one IAY project, Rs 35 lakh was sanctioned for construction of 140 houses in 12 panchayats. But, not a single IAY house was constructed. In another case, Gogoi found that Rs 25 lakh was paid to a fictitious firm for purchase of muster-roll registers and measurement books.
In March 2006, Akhil Gogoi started an RTI investigation, followed by a social audit, that led to the expose of a Rs 1.25 crore scam in Sampoornai Gram Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) in the Golaghat district.
Another RTI investigation by Gogoi detected chain of corruption from FCI godown to the fair price shop.The probe, which revealed that only 5-15 per cent of wheat flour was reaching intended beneficiaries, also led to arrests of several officials. Assam government set up three committees for enquiring into the matter. PDS system was reformed. This probe also resulted in threats to Gogoi to the extent that CIC suggested to the state government to provide security to him.
Akhil Gogoi's and KMSS’ actions have mass appeal. They have grown from strength to strength, unearthing many a scam and forcing action to be taken against the guilty. KMSS and Akhil Gogoi were thus becoming a threat, not only to the corrupt and powerful, but also to the political parties, who used both threat and lure to try and contain him. But,in vain. So, all of a sudden the security agencies, at the behest of the government, have now branded them as Naxalites/Maoists.
I knew Akhil Gogoi while I was studying in Guwahati's Cotton College. I was in Class 11 and he was doing his BA English. Though he was our senior, he would always find a few minutes to talk to us whenever we crossed roads.He had inspired a lot of us to follow our dreams. Even at that time, at the age of 20, Akhilda used to be against violence of any sort. In 1995-96, he had led an agitation against the Cotton College administration demanding professors to be more regular in taking classes. There was not a single incident of violence or vandalism. Akhilda had led the agitation by going on a hunger strike. So, if the authorities are saying that someone like Akhilda, who loves O. Henry and looks upto Gandhi, is a maoist, then they are implying that by default, every human being is a maoist. Now, that's ridiculous!!
Sitting in our AC apartments, away from the leeches of the society who prey on the poor hapless rural majority of India, the least we can do is offer our moral support to the cause of Akhil Gogoi and his KMSS.
I knew Akhil Gogoi while I was studying in Guwahati's Cotton College. I was in Class 11 and he was doing his BA English. Though he was our senior, he would always find a few minutes to talk to us whenever we crossed roads.He had inspired a lot of us to follow our dreams. Even at that time, at the age of 20, Akhilda used to be against violence of any sort. In 1995-96, he had led an agitation against the Cotton College administration demanding professors to be more regular in taking classes. There was not a single incident of violence or vandalism. Akhilda had led the agitation by going on a hunger strike. So, if the authorities are saying that someone like Akhilda, who loves O. Henry and looks upto Gandhi, is a maoist, then they are implying that by default, every human being is a maoist. Now, that's ridiculous!!
Sitting in our AC apartments, away from the leeches of the society who prey on the poor hapless rural majority of India, the least we can do is offer our moral support to the cause of Akhil Gogoi and his KMSS.
I read about Akhil Gogoi in some ndtv portal...i also read these comments at the very end...so it was you who had posted the comments!!
ReplyDeleteNDTV portal?? Send me the URL..
ReplyDeletevery true... i like your views... hoping to meet Mr. Akhil Gogoi sometime in future...
ReplyDeleteIts nothing new that politician are doing corruption everywhere. But who will take actiion on them . Its a big ????
ReplyDeleteCorruption is the main cause of Assam's pathetic State. All acknowledge this fact . But there's one more truth. A section of our society comprising of Government Officials , Businessmen & Politians. This vicious group is corrupt to the core. They are interconnected and they are the ones who siphoned off our land’s wealth and continue to do so. Since they are in power , can any ordinary citizen expect Corrution to end . Also we need their endless “favours” like building a road in the locality or getting some certificate etc etc. Its their duty but don’t they make it feel like that. We pay the bribe too. And since we are emotional people , we feel how great person he is . Gratitude. Emotions. Demi Gods??
ReplyDeleteIts people like Akhilda who has given a slight hope that once the fearless citizen stands up , the system will start to panic . A spark has generated. The aforesaid section is doing their best to crush him, has any harm been done to him. When whole mass of Assam (excluding the dirty group & the legalized Bangladesis) is behind him its not possible. There is a immense fear which he has generated in our politicians’s hearts, the Sarkari Babu’s too are frightened. They know days are going to be over soon when more people like Akhilda will be here there and everywhere.
There have been many negative views to it by many of our people. I am an optimitist . I believe We will succeed. We must succeed.
Akhilda will not do any miracle. He is a one individual, but we have a lesson to learn from this youngman. We have to wake up and be brave. Our forefathers drove the British OUT, we will drive the corrupt IN (jail).
A humble request to all people of Assam and India. Please Don’t tolerate the Corrupt & Corruption in any form. If you know any corrupt Neta , Officer please do your best to expose him /her. Our homeland will progress once they are behind bars. Had we had a clean unbiased media things would have been easy but we have many other options. We have to take our stand. We will be losers if we don’t exercise our conscience.
And also important for all our IAS /ACS & other govt. service aspirants that they must not be motivated by power and wealth.
A shamble conspiracy is going on against Mr. Akhil Gogoi....so i am appealing all the people of Assam to stand beside Akhil Gogoi.... and fight against corruption....
ReplyDeleteAssam people easily can understand the politics and conspiracy against Mr. Akhil Gogoi.....he is the genuine man of Assam
ReplyDelete