Now You Have to Sign NDAs to Attend Any Government Consultation

I was surprised when someone told me that they had to agree to a "Non-Disclosure Agreement" while attending a pre-budget consultation. They were not supposed to share images or what transpired in the meeting – even their own presentations and views.

I learn now that this is not an isolated instance. They have become the norm.

I was invited to a now postponed consultation on "National AI Strategy for Health". Feedback from the consultation, as the invite mail sent to me, as the general secretary of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled Nprd India said "will be synthesised and shared with ICMR/ WHO for incorporation into the revised strategy to be submitted to the Government of India".

Once the confirmation was made, I received a mail asking me to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Why this opaqueness? That too from powers who shout from rooftops of transparency?

Below is my response to their mail:

Thank you for the invitation to contribute to the discussion on the National AI Strategy on Health, which I understand has now been postponed.

I appreciate being considered for this critical national initiative and am deeply committed to advancing healthcare outcomes through responsible technology especially for people with disabilities .

However, I am compelled to express my serious concern regarding the precondition of signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to participate in what is fundamentally a matter of public policy and national health.

The strategy will govern the health data of billions of citizens and shape the future of public health delivery. Its development should be anchored in principles of transparency, open consultation, and public trust. An NDA at this formative stage risks insulating the process from the necessary scrutiny and diverse feedback it requires, especially since we are not even aware of the other participants, especially from the disability sector.

An NDA would legally restrict my ability to engage in essential academic, professional, and public discourse on these topics with colleagues, stakeholders, and the community, which is counterproductive to developing a robust strategy. As an organisation, the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) has been a strong advocate of transparency and accountability. The NDA strikes at its very roots.

Binding public policy consultations with NDAs is an unusual practice for a democratic government and could set a problematic precedent for future engagements on other issues of national importance.

Therefore, while I am keen to contribute my expertise, to the now postponed exercise, I am unable to sign the NDA. I believe my participation, and that of other experts who may share this concern, would be far more valuable in an open, consultative format.

I urge you to reconsider and do away with this requirement when the meeting is reconvened. A national strategy of this magnitude will be stronger if it is forged in the spirit of open dialogue rather than behind a veil of confidentiality.

Muralidharan

General Secretary

National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD)

This statement was originally published on Muralidharan's Facebook page.

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