POPxo Power Women List 2022: Anjali Bhardwaj, The ‘Courageous’ Activist Committed To Truth, Transparency & Accountability

The RTI Champion

Anjali Bharadwaj, an RTI activist, is a woman of courage—a fact that has been acknowledged even by President of the United States, Joe Biden. A staunch anti-corruption advocate, she has been involved in the Right To Information movement for over two decades. Bharadwaj’s dedication to truth, transparency, and accountability is exemplary. She is the founder of the Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), a citizens’ group dedicated to promoting accountability in governance. “Under her leadership, SNS created legislative report cards and tracked the performance of representatives across a series of categories, defining roles and responsibilities in their role as public servants,” the US State Department shared while recognising her efforts. She is fearless, brave, and committed to her cause. Bharadwaj has also been an opponent of the Indian government’s move to alter the RTI Act, which she fears will defeat its purpose. Bharadwaj is a force of nature and has driven the Right to Information Act 2005, the Whistle-Blowers Protection Act, 2011, The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, and the Grievance Redress Bill among other legislations with her dedicated activism. Most recently, she approached the Central Information Commission (CIC) regarding the denial of minutes of the meeting for the selection committee for Lokpal chairperson and members by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). 

Power Move

On February 23, 2022, the US secretary of state introduced a newly-instituted International Anti-Corruption Champions Award. Bharadwaj was one of the 12 “courageous” individuals named by the Biden administration for the award. The honour was to celebrate “individuals who have worked tirelessly, often in the face of adversity, to defend transparency, combat corruption, and ensure accountability in their own countries”. The Biden administration shared that the 12 anti-corruption activists shortlisted for the award are an inspiration for their counterparts pursuing ideals across the world.Bharadwaj’s name in the list of these 12 “courageous” people is a reminder to hold the power to account. It is a reminder that in the end, truth conquers it all

The POPxo Power Women List is an annual list that celebrates incredible Indian women from diverse domains who make power moves that have a real impact. With The POPxo Power Women List 2022, we celebrate 22 phenomenal women. To see the entire list, click here.