Retired Officer turns RTI into a people’s movement

January 21, 2026 Unknown Wizards Valli Sarvani

Instead of settling into a quiet retired life, 75-year-old A Honnurappa has chosen lifelong activism.

He spends his pension money on spreading awareness about the Right to Information (RTI) Act among youth, women, students, employees, and the unemployed.

Despite age-related health challenges, he continues to travel extensively, conduct training sessions, and address public gatherings with remarkable determination.

Honnurappa is the founder-president of the RTI Protection Association. For over a decade, he has been organising awareness programmes without expecting any reward.

His belief is deeply rooted in democratic principles. He maintains that citizens are the real rulers in a democracy and must actively question authority.

Through his efforts, he encourages people to use the RTI Act as a tool for accountability.

He often draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, who said real freedom comes when citizens resist the misuse of power.

He also echoes BR Ambedkar’s warning that those who fail to question authority are no better than slaves.

Honnurappa regards the RTI Act as the most powerful law after the Constitution of India. He urges citizens to use it fearlessly to strengthen transparency.

Born into a poor family, Honnurappa completed his SSLC in 1968. He joined the Medical and Health Department as a Special Cholera Worker and rose through the years of service.

He retired in 2011 as a Community Health Officer. During his career, he earned merit awards and recognition from district authorities.

After retirement, he underwent multiple training programmes on the RTI Act. These included sessions at Nalgonda and the Marri Chenna Reddy Human Resource Development Institute.

In 2019, he formally established the RTI Protection Association, building on earlier work with organisations such as the RTI Campaign Forum and OPDR.

In Anantapur district, he conducted awareness programmes in 138 colleges and 34 offices. He distributed nearly 8,000 RTI handbooks and 23,000 pamphlets explaining key court judgments.

His initiatives focus on educating citizens about their rights and responsibilities.

Honnurappa highlights landmark rulings that promote transparency. These include orders requiring offices to publish 17 categories of information annually under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act.

He also cites judgments mandating hospitals to provide patients with daily case sheets. Reflecting on his experiences, he says even educated employees struggle when seeking justice.

This understanding pushed him to dedicate his retirement years to public service. For Honnurappa, the RTI Act is not merely a law but a way to awaken democratic consciousness.

At 75, his work continues to inspire thousands, proving that democracy survives only when citizens remain informed, vigilant, and willing to question.

Image Credit: Saachith, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons