March for Accountability Concludes in Jaipur
The Jawabdehi Padyatra, a statewide march demanding government accountability, reached its final destination at Jaipur's Shaheed Smarak on Tuesday. Over a thousand workers, farmers, and students gathered to press Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma for enacting an Accountability law in Rajasthan.
Constitutional Rights Under Threat
Addressing the crowd on Constitution Day, prominent activist Aruna Roy emphasized that democracy fundamentally depends on constitutional rights. "Dignity and rights can be protected only when accountability is ensured," she declared. Roy stressed that without proper accountability mechanisms, democracy remains incomplete and urged the state government to prioritize the Accountability law for marginalized communities to access their rights.
Shankar Singh, who participated in the 15-day march, shared disturbing findings from village after village. "From water to pensions, from schools to hospitals—people are wandering from door to door. Laws and schemes exist, but no one listens," he reported. The padyatra uncovered that most rights-based legislation in Rajasthan remains theoretical, with poor implementation denying benefits to the poor and marginalized.
Systemic Failures Exposed
Social activist Nikhil Dey highlighted the absence of functioning rules for gig workers, minimum wage guarantees, and the delayed implementation of the Right to Health Act for over two years as evidence of serious political accountability gaps. "Accountability at every level is essential to strengthen democracy," Dey asserted, noting that only a few government officials actually work while others evade responsibility.
The current march follows similar efforts in previous years. The first Accountability Padyatra in 2015-16 recorded more than 10,000 complaints, but follow-up investigations revealed only superficial grievance resolution. Subsequent marches in 2021 and 2022 identified identical problems without meaningful solutions emerging.
Widespread Grievances Documented
The padyatra documented numerous complaints across multiple sectors:
- Employment and food security issues
- Delayed pension payments
- Silicosis affecting workers
- Drinking water shortages
- Farmers' unresolved problems
- Healthcare service deficiencies
- Anganwadi operational flaws
- Problems with Rajasthan Sampark Portal cases
These complaints point to a comprehensive breakdown in accountability systems across the state administration.
Electoral Reforms Demanded
The campaign also demanded withdrawal of amendments introduced through the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), arguing they weaken Right to Information and transparency. Additionally, organizers called on the Election Commission of India to conduct social audits of voter lists, correct erroneous entries, register new voters, and enable citizen monitoring to protect universal suffrage.
PUCL national president Kavita Srivastava revealed that the ongoing Statewide Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states, including Rajasthan, has exposed significant inaccuracies and opacity. "Names are being deleted without notice, new registrations remain pending, and complaints go unanswered," she stated. Srivastava warned that faulty voter lists threaten democratic foundations and demanded transparency in the SIR process.
The Jawabdehi Padyatra, organized by the Right to Information and Employment Campaign Rajasthan, covered several districts over fifteen days, consistently finding that legal protections exist primarily on paper while ground realities remain unchanged for Rajasthan's most vulnerable citizens.
