Mass filing of RTIs ignites hope for clean drinking water in Mallabuchan village

Srinagar, Jan 3: In a historic demonstration of collective action, residents of Mallabuchan village, supported by activists from the J&K RTI Foundation, filed mass RTI applications today, marking a significant step in their fight for safe drinking water and accountability.

Over 50 RTI applications were filed on the spot, with more to be filed later due to the unexpectedly large turnout.

“We weren’t expecting such a huge gathering,” said Ishfaq Majeed, Membership Secretary of the J&K RTI Foundation. “While 50 applications were filed today, more will follow to ensure every household's voice is heard.”

The village, located at the intersection of Budgam and Baramulla districts, has suffered from a lack of safe drinking water for over two decades. While a few households have been provided access to clean water, the majority of the village remains without this basic necessity. Despite repeated appeals, the authorities have failed to address the issue, and recently, an official escalated tensions by filing a police complaint against villagers, accusing them of raising baseless concerns.

“This is not just about water; it is about dignity and justice,” said Er Irfan Ali Banka, Chairman of the J&K RTI Foundation. “The police complaint was an attempt to silence the villagers. Through RTI, we aim to restore their dignity and demand accountability from the authorities.”

Prominent RTI activists, including Sajad (RTI Secretary, J&K RTI Foundation), Syed Farhat (Senior RTI Activist), Ishfaq Majeed (Membership Secretary, J&K RTI Foundation), and Momin Hussain Banka (Member, J&K RTI Foundation), were present at the event, guiding and supporting the villagers in drafting and filing their applications.

The RTI applications filed by each household address critical issues, including:

• The lack of consultation with Gram Sabhas and Panchayat Samitis in planning water supply schemes. The exclusion of women from decision-making processes, violating the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
• The discrepancy between official records and the actual water supply situation.
• The lack of transparency in forming Pani Samitis and drafting the Village Action Plan and the questions about the allocation and utilisation of funds for water supply projects in the area.

Women played a central role in the event, stepping forward to file RTI applications and demand accountability for the first time. “We didn’t know we had the right to be involved in these decisions,” said one participant. “Today, we are demanding what is rightfully ours – safe water and respect for our voices.”

The J&K RTI Foundation has also helped establish the "Action 4 Mallabuchan" group, a local initiative aimed at sustaining this momentum and ensuring ongoing pressure on the authorities to act.

RTI activists believe this campaign will expose administrative neglect and force the government to respond. Parallels were drawn to a similar effort in 2014, when RTI activists in Sonawari, Bandipora, organised mass RTI filings after devastating floods.

That campaign, which occurred during the tenure of then Deputy Commissioner Shah Faesal, lead to significant improvements in flood rehabilitation efforts and became a model for the use of RTI as a tool for accountability.

“Today’s event is historic,” said Syed Farhat, senior RTI Activist who had come from 40 kms to help these villagers. “The mass filing of RTIs will bring transparency, restore the dignity of the people, and secure their right to clean water. We are committed to standing with the villagers every step of the way.”