Jaipur- A fresh wave of demand for accountability is sweeping across Rajasthan. The 'Jawabdehi Yatra' (Accountabulity March) organized by the Soochna and Rozgar Andolan (Information and Employment Rights Campaign) Rajasthan, kicked off with great fervor on November 11 from Beawar's iconic Chang Gate, the very spot where India's Right to Information (RTI) movement was born 30 years ago in 1996. The organisation is a citizen movement to establish greater transparency and accountability in governance.

The primary aim of this march is to press the state government for a robust Social Accountability Law and the immediate implementation of three landmark laws passed two years ago: the Gig Workers Act, Minimum Income Guarantee, and Right to Health. The yatra is set to conclude on November 26 in Jaipur, where a major public dialogue is anticipated.

The journey was inaugurated by renowned social activist Aruna Roy, a Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient. The initial leg from Chang Gate to Ajmeri Gate saw hundreds of activists, villagers, and youth participating amid enthusiastic crowds. The 16-day march will traverse five divisions, including Ajmer and Udaipur, with stops in rural areas like Delwara and Suhawa villages. At each halt, locals welcomed the group with drums, tilaks, and folk songs, while public meetings fostered open discussions.

Objectives and Key Demands

At the heart of this nine-year struggle is the passage of Rajasthan's 'Social Accountability Law', which the government has promised multiple times but failed to enact. Organizers emphasize that without rules, laws remain mere paper documents. In particular, the non-implementation of the 2023 Gig Workers Law, Minimum Income Guarantee, and Right to Health has left millions of laborers, farmers, and the poor in distress. The yatra also protests efforts to weaken RTI, underscoring the need for transparency and administrative accountability.

Villagers shared grievances at stops, irregularities in MGNREGA wages, delays in ration and pension distribution, and water shortages in places like Suhawa. The rallying cry is: "We Have Questions... We Demand Answers! Pass the Accountability Law!" Aruna Roy stated, "This yatra reminds the government that the real owners are the people. Governance without accountability is incomplete."

Echoing the 2016 campaign, where marches from 33 districts converged in Jaipur for a 22-day sit-in this current 16-day effort (November 11-26) will conduct awareness drives across villages and towns. Upon reaching Jaipur, plans include a meeting with Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to push for concrete action on the demands.

The yatra not only challenges governmental apathy but also empowers citizens to assert their rights. Experts believe this movement will strengthen RTI's legacy and pave the way for social justice in Rajasthan.