Sankarans work for needy was pioneering

HYDERABAD: "The late SR Sankaran, popularly known as the people's IAS officer was a versatile human being," said Aruna Roy.      Delivering the first SR Sankaran memorial lecture on Sunday, the RTI activist and member of National Advisory Council said, "None of us can emulate the work that he did," adding the civil service officer had battled for rights of the oppressed as long as he lived. Aruna Roy said people such as Sankaran and Kannabiran would be deeply missed as there aren't many who can replace their dedication towards those in need. Quoting many instances where she had disagreements with Sankaran and Dr Kannabiran during emergence of the Right to Information movement in the country, Roy said such progressive discussion was missing today. "While we disagreed on many notes, we were still fighting for one cause. But today, dissent is not treated the same way," she said referring to criticism from various corners about her disagreement with team Anna's anti-corruption movement. "In a democratic set up, it is the government's responsibility to deliver. Just because importance is placed on the government's role, it does not make people stooges of the government," she added, retorting to remarks in sections of the media about her team's "bias towards a certain political party." There is no one 'civil society', there are multiple voices of people belonging to the society, each of it valid, said the Magsaysay award winner asking media and the corporates to "clear the intellectual mess created by using words in activism without understanding them and by misrepresenting people's dissent." Roy criticised the Land Acts in the country of being biased towards the corporate crowd and called upon the public to wake up to many flawed policies of the government. "The government will pass many bills this winter session and all of us must keep ourselves abreast of the issues being presented in the Parliament, lest they be passed without notice of a majority of the people," she said. She concluded by sending across a message to the youth to take up the mantle of responsible activism. "Beyond a slogan, beyond looking revolutionary, there is revolution," said the activist.