Perhaps because knowledge leads to empowerment, governments � of all shades, beliefs and composition � tend to crack down on the citizens' right to know.

It was thus refreshing that the United Progressive Alliance government enacted the Right to Information Act 2005, which mandates timely response to citizen's requests for government information.

In the one year of its existence -- the RTI Act came into being on October 12, 2005 -- it has led to a storm of requests across the country, ranging for information on an overdue LPG connection to the expenditure on civic projects. What binds most of the queries is that they touch the common man's life intimately.

Have you filed a request under the RTI Act? What has been your experience? Has the information you sought been forthcoming, or did you find officialdom in a stalling mode? How do you think the Act can further be strengthened, so that it serves its purpose better? Tell us!