Video Editor: Rahul Sanpui
Sheikh Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, 45, is a faith healer, who has taken a different path for helping the poor and downtrodden from his district, Budgam. Sheikh is teaching his followers how to use RTI (Right to Information Act 2009). They are now holding their local offices accountable by filing RTIs. “I have trained over 15,000 people to use RTI,” he said.
Sheikh uses his weekends to conduct RTI workshops in his Budgam house .
On weekends, people come to my house with their spiritual and personal problems, out of whom 20-30 visit only for RTI assistance.Sheikh Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, Faith Healer & RTI Activist
Sheikh hails from Mujhpather area of District Budgam. He belongs to the community of tribals and spends his weekdays as a carpenter.
Talking about why he helps people to write RTIs, he said, “I always wanted to help my people, to uplift them, but my amulet was not enough.”
Sheikh felt helpless when he was unable to help people and resolve their problems related to their basic needs like, getting ration cards, issues regarding MGNREGA job cards and housing.
Mostly, people came up with issues like not having ration cards allotted to them under Central and State government schemes. They were being harassed in government offices with delays and unnecessary procedures.Sheikh Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, Faith Healer & RTI Activist
In 2007, Sheikh heard about the RTI law. He met an activist, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, who told him how he could help people with this law. “Since then, I started giving RTI applications as amulets. I felt better as I was able to help more people and I was also able to empower them,” said Sheikh.
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