I, Mr. Leslie Almeida age 58 yrs, retired merchant Navy Officer, do solemnly state
I am not running an NGO many of whom do not even audit accounts, there are scams in some NGO's like the one "DIGNITY FOUNDATION" who looted senior citizens as reported by the press. and I believe some are booked or may be in Police lockup.
1. I have been active in RTI since 2003 helping out the late Kewal Semlani like a chokra boy at the RTI helpline of ST Andrews church Bandra, this fizzled out in the year 2004 because of some problem which I wish not to disclose.
2. In the year 2006 some parishioners of ST Andrew's Church Bandra approached me
To revive the RTI Help center, I agreed , on 6th October 2006 the RTI cell was revived,
Times of India reports St Andrews Church Joins RTI Crusade.
3. Upto date the cell has been visited by over 1000 citizens, having a success rate of 60 percent. Which some help of my RTI colleges I learned some of my mistakes and got valuable help. I do not wish to quote names.
4. I had in my own capacity put over 500 RTI applications, 1st appeal, 2nd appeal
Although I received death threats, it did not deter me to go along my relentless work
Nor did I ask for any Police help, as the greatest offenders of RTI act are the Police force,
Having documentary proof of same.
5. My 7 applications complains u/s 18 regarding Assessor & Collector charging Rs 230
For a A4 sixe page, Building proposal Department charging Rs 27 for A4 size page
And Rs 110 for plans,same as MSD Collectors office Bandra east, and other matters are gathering dust at SIC office Mumbai almost 3 years
6. However when Mr. Baskar Prabhu takes up the matter with SIC about assessor and collector charging Rs 230 this year, SIC complies stating Rs 2 should be charged, this because Baskar Prabhu runs a NGO and is a chelae of SIC Suresh Joshi.immediately press reports same, Collars up for Baskar Prabhu (God)
7. I wish to state that Shri Sailesh Gandhi used to send people to our RTI helpline
As he did not have time attending to citizens, he even send College students to out helpline for guidance for the project work, which we helped out to their satisfaction
8. Although I got some guidance from Shri Sailesh Gandhi which I did appreciate, at every seminar he had he emphasized that the tooth of the Act is the penalty clause of Rs 250 per day for not parting with information, today being a CIC does he practice what he preached???? If the answer if NO, it means adopting double standards.
9. I appreciate the work that many are doing to uphold the spirit of the RTI act,
10. If lakhs of applications are pending at SIC/CIC office the reason is clear, SIC/CIC are soft peddling on PIO's, not imposing penalties, even when orders are passed some PIO
do not comply their complains u/s 18 to SIC/CIC falls on deaf ears.
11. If one RTI activist is murdered there are 10 that are born, there are many Citizens
Who do not tolerate injustice nor are they afraid of their lives. I cherish them for their fearlessness.
12. When I was a young boy I saw a movie of late Amjad khan Sholay if I am not mistaken his dialogue inspires me even today, quote "JO DARA TOO MARA" "traitor says Saab ape namak kaya hai Amjad says to him quote " Abe Gole ka lo"
13. I believe TOI reported St Andrew's RTI helpline as the best helpline of Mumbai,
I do not take credit for it, it's the Church who gets the credit.
Leslie Almeida
RTI Volunter
St Andrew's church Bandra Mumbai
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