Loksatta achievements

1. Achievements of Lok Satta

2. A people's movement for good governance
Started on 3rd August 1997

3. Voter Registration Process Simplified
Movements:
• Conducted sample surveys in 112 polling stations in 2004
• Surveyed electoral rolls in Sanathnagar constituency in 2005
• Campaign for verification of electoral rolls
• Organized events for easy Voter Registration
Achievements
• Mobile/online voter enrollment facilitated
• Voters list made available in each polling station
• Special official at each polling station
• Voter registration made simple through Post Offices in 2008
• Voting rights for NRIs from 2010

4. Election Watch Movement
Movements:
• Election Watch Movement launched in 1999 for electoral reforms
• Campaign for screening of candidates with criminal antecedents
• Common Platforms for public debates in 130 constituencies to enable
people’s participation
• Postcards campaign for implementation of Supreme court’s ruling in 2002
• Silent processions in 200 centres
• Conducted People’s Ballot with 10 lakh members
Achievements
• In 2003, Supreme Court mandates disclosure of criminal record by
contesting candidates
• Filing of criminal records, property affidavits along with nomination
papers made compulsory

5. Government’s move to rescue Convicted
Legislators trashed
Movements:
• Proposed disqualification for all convicted legislators (1997)
• Campaign for exclusion of criminals from legislatures
• Proposal submitted to the Parliament in 2006
• Representation to the President to reject ordinance that protected
convicted legislators
Achievements
• Supreme Court’s order for immediate disqualification of convicted
legislators in 2013
• Ordinance withdrawn

6. Anti – Defection Law made stringent
Movements:
• Demand for strengthening anti-defection law (1997)
• Appealed for disqualification in case of defection
Achievements
• Anti-defection law amended in 2003
• Provision for disqualification if the member defects party

7. Ceiling on Oversized Ministries
Movements:
• Conducted protests against expansion of Council of Ministers
• Campaigned for restriction of the size of Ministry to 10 % of total strength
of Legislative Assemblies
Achievements
• Constitutional limitation on the maximum number of ministers
• Number restricted to 15 % of the strength of the Legislative Assemblies

8. Legislation for Disclosure of Party Funds
Movements:
• Initiatives for party reforms since 1997
• Demand for transparency in funds and surplus expenditure
• Advocated elimination of black money in election campaigns
Achievements
• Legislation in 2003 regulating collection of party funds
• Tax exemptions in case of donations
• Mandatory disclosure of party accounts to the Election Commission
• Disclosure of donations exceeding Rs.20,000

9. Battles against Corruption
Movements:
• Participation in International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9
• Several anti-corruption activities, events undertaken since 2004
• “Deshamunu preminchumanna” (Love for One’s Country) programme
conducted for the youth
• Legal battles initiated against corruption scandals
• Petition for abolition of 2G spectrum licenses
Achievements
• 122 - 2G licenses cancelled based on the Supreme Court’s judgment in
2012
• Competitive bidding ordered by the Court
• Large number of students engaged in anti-corruption movement

10. Federation for Empowerment of
Local Governments
Movements:
• Federation for the Empowerment of Local Governments (FELG) formed in
February 2003
• Organised One Crore Signatures campaign
• Legal initiatives for holding local elections
• Organized Round Table on 22nd October 2013 for the expansion of the
movement
Achievements
• Recognition at National and State levels
• Second Administrative Reforms Commission acknowledges
• Central Panchayat Raj Ministry acts upon the same

11. Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
Movements:
• Organized National Level Round Table on April 24 th 2011
• Advocated formation of Lokpal and Lokayuktas (ombudsman) in single
legislation
• Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan leads Lokpal Ratha Yatra in July 2011
• Representation made to the Parliamentary Standing Committee
• Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta Bill drafted
Achievements
• Prime Minister mentions Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan’s proposals in the
Parliament
• Standing Committee Report incorporates Lok Satta’s proposals

12. One Crore Signatures Campaign for
Local Governments
Movements:
• Little Republic Day organized on 26th January 2003
• Panchayat presidents hoisted the flag and asserted their supremacy
• Conferences held across districts – resolutions, promises and pledges
undertaken
• Panchayat offices renamed as local governments
• Collection of 1 crore 8 lakh signatures in 50 days
• Grand Celebrations in Hyderabad on the historic achievement
Achievements
• Government and Opposition parties assured to devolve powers
• Gained nation-wide recognition – allocation of funds for Panchayats
increased

13. Judicial Reforms - Gram Nyayalayas
Movements:
• Proposal for Gram Nyayalayas mooted in 2003
• Bill for Gram Nyayalayas drafted in 2003 in consultation with eminent
jurists
• Elicited public opinion in villages
• Proposal made before NAC demanding local courts
Achievements
• Gram Nyayalayas Act enacted by the centre in 2009
• Legislation incorporated Lok Satta’s proposals

14. Judicial Reforms - JAC
Movements:
• Highlighted corruption in the judiciary
• Committee comprising of Late Justice Verma, Justice Krishna Iyer, Justice
Venkatachaliah formed in 2011
• Submitted a report to the Government on the National Judicial
Commission
• Proposal for creation of All India Judicial Service
Achievements
• Judicial Accountability Bill tabled in the Parliament in 2010
• Bill for creation of National Judicial Commission tabled in the Parliament
in 2013
• Lok Satta’s proposals incorporated in the bill.
• Autonomy for the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC)
• Provision to remove the corrupt officials in the judiciary

15. Police Reforms
Movements:
• Extensive campaigns organized for police reforms
• Sought for autonomous investigations free from political influence
• Demand for bringing police forces under the purview of the local
government jurisdiction
Achievements
• Supreme Court issues directives for police reforms in 2006
• Supreme Court orders for autonomy in crime investigation

16. Right to Information Act
Movements:
• Model Right to Information Bill released in 2001
• Extensive campaigns carried out in districts in 2002-03
• One and a half lakh postcards sent to Prime Minister in 2004
• Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan as NAC member plays crucial role in drafting the
act
Achievements
• Enactment of the RTI Act in 2005
• Lok Satta contributed to the translation of legislation into Telugu and in
conducting training programmes on the same.

17. Citizen’s Right to Public Services
Movements:
• Published Citizen’s Charter document under the Surajyam banner
• Swarajyam march organized in Hyderabad on October 2 nd
• Swarajyam committees formed across cities for Citizens’ Charters
• Citizen service centers setup at various places
• Submitted Right to Public Services Bill at the national level in 2012
• Proposals made before the Parliamentary Standing Committee in 2012
Achievements
• Charters get introduced in municipalities and panchayats in 2001
• Sample citizens’ charters for all government departments
• E-seva/Mee-seva centers started at various places
• Lok Satta’s proposals incorporated in the Citizen’s Right to Public Services
Bill

18. National Rural Health Mission
Movements:
• Demand for health services reforms since 1997
• Surveys conducted and reports drafted
• Public-private partnership in delivery of health services proposed
• Crucial role of Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan in the formulation of Arogya
Mission (as an NAC member)
Achievements
• National Rural Health Mission initiated in 2005
• One ASHA worker allocated for every 5,000 persons in rural areas
• Funds allocated to villages for public health
(Rs.10,000 for health sub-centers and Rs.15,000 for sanitation annually)
• Special grants for PHCs and mandals

19. Farmers Empowerment gets an impetus
Movements:
• Formation of Federation of Independent Farmer’s Associations (FIFA) in 2011
• Demand for free markets to make agriculture profitable
• Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan‘s Rytu Chaitanya Yatras for mobilising the farmers
and surveying of market yards
• Padayatras undertaken by Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan for establishment of free
markets
Achievements
• Focus shifted from sustenance to profitable agriculture
• Benefit of 3600 crores to the farmers in one season as a result of
Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan ’s Padayatra
• Partial lifting of embargos on foreign exports
• Tariffs levied on imports

20. Constitutional Safeguard for Cooperatives
Movements:
• Advocated the right to form cooperatives as a fundamental right
• Demand for a model legislation to free cooperatives from political
interference
• Several petitions in state high court for autonomy of cooperatives
• Facilitated movements involving milk cooperatives
Achievements
• 97th constitutional amendment in 2012 safeguarding cooperatives
• Formation of cooperative societies made a fundamental right
• Obtained favorable orders in high court against political interference

21. Power sector reforms
Movements:
• Formation of Consumer Organization for Reforms in Electricity (CORE) for
the public
• Membership in the State Electricity Task force (2002)
• Pilot projects undertaken in 2004 for electricity distribution
• Management of four feeders through Lok Satta franchises
Achievements
• Considerable reduction of losses in electricity distribution
• 24 hour electricity supply to houses
• Explosion of electric transformers reduced
• Immediate Response Mechanism for farmers developed – initiative
welcomed by the farmers

22. Elimination of Short Delivery at Petrol Pumps
Movements:
• Surveillance of petrol pumps in 1998
• Illegal deliveries exposed with the help of pre-calibrated measures
• 5-10 percent of the petrol pumps irregularities noticed
Achievements
• Government takes notice of elimination of short delivery
• Increased scrutiny of oil companies
• Electronic devices installed in petrol pumps to test purity
• Benefit of 2 lakh crores for the people in 15 years

23. Empowerment of Women &
Abolition of Liquor
Movements:
• Alternative Women’s Reservation Bill drafted in 2002
• Training conducted for women representatives in 12 districts in 2004
• Campaign for abolition of liquor in 2007
• Padayatra undertaken by Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan in Guntur district
• Protests against liquor shop auctions in 2012
Achievements
• Women’s reservation increased to 50 % in local governments
• AP Government halts liquor shop auctions

24. Surajya Movement
Movements:
• Initiated the Surajya movement on a wide platform
• Round tables organized in 90 villages from August 2012
• Pledges by thousands of students
• Fast (Deeksha) by Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan for 3 days in December 2012
• Mobilized large number of people in December 2012
Achievements
• Large scale participation by urban middle classes
• Mobilization of thousands of students
• Garnered wide support for the Surajya goals and objectives