Often statistics are considered a complex stream because deciphering its fundamentals needed a meticulous observation, despite this it’s so relevant that an escapement is not possible when judging the core of any organized happening. Obviously statistics remind us about the actuality of an outcome besides also insulate to look after on some deciding implications, even though we are quite aware about it’s not being the sole proposition of inquiry in present context.
On the date these words are taking place there could be also seen a smooth progress of parliamentary election 2009(at least on cards); but neither the word smooth nor the progress justified the genuine claims in present election. It’s alarming to see the scale of violence and lower turnout of voters in so far completed three phases of voting.
These two ill indications are I think countering the spirit of Indian democracy and making it elusive to form a genuine representation at the center. Violence jeopardizing the democratic sentiment of nation because it’s chocking the peoples from exercising their franchise freely besides this it also revealed the growing impatience of a large number of peoples toward the existing political and social order.
Such feelings among its practitioners creating a sense of distortion in their cognition state further which shaping their action of fauxpas. This miscommunication between the government and aggrieved groups are deepening the mistrust that is proving disastrous and failed to acknowledge each other’s plights.
It should be a foremost aim of next government at the center to restructure the governance with the help of respective state governments to tackle with this growing divide at social, economic and political sphere. It will require a set of conscious efforts including some drastic reforms in growth agenda and honest disbursement of opportunities throughout the country, which would indeed lessen the isolation of backward areas and infused parity in socio-economic order.
The falling polling turnout is another area of grave concern which dampening the overall electoral practice in recent times. So, it would be worthwhile to acknowledge the regional variance in this regard because completely contradictory conditions are prevailing among the rest states and Jammu & Kashmir.
Many crucial determinants and their magnitudes differs state-wise; where in Jammu &Kashmir a lower poll of 26% is indicative of decades long prevailing turmoil in state which is a unique case because the security of this state is immensely critical from national point of view as it consists utmost concern of India’s external security as well.
In such state of affairs even the peaceful completion of election in the state should not be seen less than a breakthrough but the same are not justifiable in the case of state like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where the polling got confined on a meager 44%. It’s extremely regrettable because alone these two states have deciding capacity in any political formation with its strength of more than hundred parliamentary constituencies.
Even we cannot compare these two states and Jharkhand with lower turnout of polls in Mumbai (50%), because a metropolis like Mumbai has some inherent characteristics in which we could locate a consistent alienation among the sizable number of its participants from political arena, I think its not a noble happening in Mumbai although it’s equally unfortunate in broader sense.
Situation of India’s two states is awesome on development front as these two states have a history of bad governance and parochialism at their political sphere. Such political anatomy harassed the plot of development and caused for weaker socio-economic indicators like poverty, unemployment, migration or better saying exodus, casteism, illiteracy etc.
Such state of affairs formed a sense of deception among the common men whatever they are facing in daily life impulses them for political alienation. Another major reason of lower turnout is state of exodus in these states due to lack of employment opportunities in their home states they forced to migrate in metro cities. Majority of migrants are flew conditionally to survive in material world.
So, lower turnout of polling in these states are caused by the forcible migration generated through absence of proper sustainable infrastructure and opportunities in their near by areas. To some extant political participants reflects the overall picture of socio-economic progress and its entitlement with the common men’s.
So, being the most worlds most esteemed and vibrant democracy, India now needs some fresh look at their electoral mechanism by which it might be possible to strengthen the alternative system of voting and many other conducive approaches in this regard. Remote system of voting and a rational ceiling on electoral expense of candidates would infuse fresh hopes among the masses. Indeed democracy would emerge in its finest form and masses of this country have lot to cheer in their life through their genuine political participation.
As a common man I am optimistic about such reforms, but presently very remorseful to missed the casting my votes in present election… because of having physical remoteness from my constituency. Hoping to see new dawn in Indian politics through fresh approaches on our electoral institutions.
Atul Kumar Thakur
Saturday, 2nd May
New Delhi
atul_mdb@rediffmail.com
Showing posts with label Participatory Democracy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Participatory Democracy. Show all posts
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Hurdles of Participatory Democracy at Panchayats
It is now universally recognized that goals of development, eradication of poverty, gender justice, literacy, health and several other programs and their imperatives that make for humane and civilized living cannot be met by state alone through the centralized planning. Collapse of the U.S.S.R and other satellite states in Europe have irretrievably discredited planning from above, it has now been realized that if there has to be efficiency and equity in delivery of services, greater participation and better accountability in governance from local bodies would be much required now than they have been doing so far.
The 73rd and 74thamendments of the Indian Constitution represents a watershed in the evolution of local government in India. They affirm not only that local bodies have constitutes the gamut of local governance but also that they form an integral and vital part of the whole gamut of governance in India, they are no more the “creatures of the state governments”.
But one of the apparent shortcomings of the amendments is that their still have considerable discretion's at the hands of state governments regarding the financial and administrative charges of the local bodies. The consequences have been that there is wide variation in the actual functioning of the local bodies in different states of India, some states have been more faithful to the spirit of the amendments mode and they endeavored to give panchayats a considerable autonomy and financial aid.
However some states have been tardy in this respect, they view the panchayats not as partners in development but as rivals in governance. However it must be admitted that state alone are not responsible for the uneven performances of the local bodies.
There are still some parts in India particularly in north where rigid, patriarchal and the other centuries old beliefs and practices do not being disappeared , in these state there are still exists only the formal representation of women’s at local levels .
Their authorities are effectively dominated by their men folks through remote control of any judgments in their hand they confined in most of cases like nothing more than a puppet, there are immense conditional similarities could be found in the case of Schedule casts and Schedule tribes in state of representation. In some places they have been able to effectively raise their voices and express their concerns, but in most of places they have reduced to the status of mute spectators.
Such state of affairs are arising due to stickiness of authority with the male dominance, this trend is hardly reversed even after the implementation of women’s reservation in many states. Effects of these maladies are universal in all communities irrespective of their position in social hierarchy which causing for the suppression of aspirations and innovations among the women’s.
There may be some solace to found the growing proportion of participation in Panchayat elections but it’s alone is not sufficient for smooth functioning of this lower tier of democracy, I think apart from all regular practices at Panchayat level there is dire need to take some stringent action to ensure fair participation as well as representation . The priorities should be to…
1. Lessen the strife during polls
2. Strengthening of women’s candidate with aim to end the pseudo representation
3. Better placements and assistance to the economically marginalized candidates ( in terms of ensuring some financial assistance by the government only)
4. Transparency in bureaucracy
5. Better monitoring by election commission etc.
Apart from such measures there is need to alter the groupism and narrow favor’s during the Panchayat elections, because such tendencies are severely hampering the universal rights of franchise among the socio economically weaker sections. As peoples will is foremost for any political consensus, so, it should be always taken into account that each and every vote is indispensable and crucial due to having lower intake of numbers (voters) in Panchayati constituencies.
Without ensuring the efficiency and fairness at local level of governance it would be a distant dream to meet with the goal of social security programmers. Positive initiatives like NREGS, is coping with frequent hurdles because of practical shortcomings of governance and lower awareness among the peoples.
Institutionalization of participatory democracy at local level becomes very strategic because it is quite imperative to avail the advantages of citizenship and social welfare schemes. Quality and vibrancy of a democracy could be sensed only through the empowered participation instead of number based or emotional participation's which are hardly coeds with real issues.
Strong polarizations of peoples will at local level would have a stronger effects on central plans and policy matters regarding the rural India. No doubt, it would be as par with what its deserves.
Atul Kr Thakur
17th april 2009, New Delhi
atul_mdb@rediffmail.com
The 73rd and 74thamendments of the Indian Constitution represents a watershed in the evolution of local government in India. They affirm not only that local bodies have constitutes the gamut of local governance but also that they form an integral and vital part of the whole gamut of governance in India, they are no more the “creatures of the state governments”.
But one of the apparent shortcomings of the amendments is that their still have considerable discretion's at the hands of state governments regarding the financial and administrative charges of the local bodies. The consequences have been that there is wide variation in the actual functioning of the local bodies in different states of India, some states have been more faithful to the spirit of the amendments mode and they endeavored to give panchayats a considerable autonomy and financial aid.
However some states have been tardy in this respect, they view the panchayats not as partners in development but as rivals in governance. However it must be admitted that state alone are not responsible for the uneven performances of the local bodies.
There are still some parts in India particularly in north where rigid, patriarchal and the other centuries old beliefs and practices do not being disappeared , in these state there are still exists only the formal representation of women’s at local levels .
Their authorities are effectively dominated by their men folks through remote control of any judgments in their hand they confined in most of cases like nothing more than a puppet, there are immense conditional similarities could be found in the case of Schedule casts and Schedule tribes in state of representation. In some places they have been able to effectively raise their voices and express their concerns, but in most of places they have reduced to the status of mute spectators.
Such state of affairs are arising due to stickiness of authority with the male dominance, this trend is hardly reversed even after the implementation of women’s reservation in many states. Effects of these maladies are universal in all communities irrespective of their position in social hierarchy which causing for the suppression of aspirations and innovations among the women’s.
There may be some solace to found the growing proportion of participation in Panchayat elections but it’s alone is not sufficient for smooth functioning of this lower tier of democracy, I think apart from all regular practices at Panchayat level there is dire need to take some stringent action to ensure fair participation as well as representation . The priorities should be to…
1. Lessen the strife during polls
2. Strengthening of women’s candidate with aim to end the pseudo representation
3. Better placements and assistance to the economically marginalized candidates ( in terms of ensuring some financial assistance by the government only)
4. Transparency in bureaucracy
5. Better monitoring by election commission etc.
Apart from such measures there is need to alter the groupism and narrow favor’s during the Panchayat elections, because such tendencies are severely hampering the universal rights of franchise among the socio economically weaker sections. As peoples will is foremost for any political consensus, so, it should be always taken into account that each and every vote is indispensable and crucial due to having lower intake of numbers (voters) in Panchayati constituencies.
Without ensuring the efficiency and fairness at local level of governance it would be a distant dream to meet with the goal of social security programmers. Positive initiatives like NREGS, is coping with frequent hurdles because of practical shortcomings of governance and lower awareness among the peoples.
Institutionalization of participatory democracy at local level becomes very strategic because it is quite imperative to avail the advantages of citizenship and social welfare schemes. Quality and vibrancy of a democracy could be sensed only through the empowered participation instead of number based or emotional participation's which are hardly coeds with real issues.
Strong polarizations of peoples will at local level would have a stronger effects on central plans and policy matters regarding the rural India. No doubt, it would be as par with what its deserves.
Atul Kr Thakur
17th april 2009, New Delhi
atul_mdb@rediffmail.com
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Stop shunning politics
It’s now become out of fashion to talk about politics in its real terms or in ideological framework. Political practices of a large masses are gradually being confined to the electoral activities…even theirs participation are far from satisfactions. Even though it could not be denied that Indian Democracy has been successfully strengthening democratic institutions throughout the years since independence.
No doubt, the size, peaceful and punctual rotation of governments, diversified representation etc are some strong points in favor of Indian democratic system; but all such indications not necessarily ensures the proper representation of citizens will or genuine quest for own role in political system. Such passivity effects like a handicap on political system which lucidly evaporating the crux of democratic spirit as well as weakening the participatory structure.
Overall such happening creates sense of despair among masses regarding the role of authority, on the other end representatives by large unlikely felt any incentives regarding their role towards citizens.Why shunning politicians?
Indeed, it’s common realization that most of representatives falsified their promises during their tenure, to some extant claim is not wrong but it’s not entirely true, because we have to look at the exceptions too. In the sixty two years of post independence we could easily locate the increasing wave of corruption and dutilessness by politicians, though the scale of such tendencies was not so rampant in early phase because, ideal of freedom struggle was than existed amidst the political arena and leadership have had vision for national consolidation on various fronts.
In subsequent phase political arena immensely exposed to the tracts like opportunism, regionalism, castism, criminalisation, etc which all led to fractional way of politics where to cite idealism became day by day difficult and focus were hugely shifted from development path.
Statistically development remain on the right track but it’s bright side have been not availed equally by lower strata of society, here we got lag behind from our constitutional aim of inclusive development.
So, at this major front on establishment of socialistic principles largely jeopardized in the growth agenda. Such deterioration at public arena is not an independently aroused conditions rather it’s crystal reflexion of equally deteriorating civic morale among the citizens. Falling quality of citizens action towards their democratic rights is a major reason of their estrangement from decision-making mechanism of government.
Once,eminent political scientist Rajani Kothari coined a term” criminalisation of politics” on burgeoning proportion of criminals in politics later by naturalization of their presence it became imperative to modify the quotation as ”Politicization of criminals” which revealed the demerit of quick adoption among the citizens before any short of political representation. Rule in a democracy indeed aroused from the electoral management, which doesn’t allow any political party to come in limelight without having support from mass majority.
So, rule under any elected government signifies respectively by the majoritarian views, means largely representations reflects the morale judgments of Voters in a Democracy which is true at least in principles.
Their sensitivity or insensitivity could be best seen in their scale of tolerance of that particular representation which came in to force through their own act. A sensitive saying of Meri Antoniate (French Queen) during the great French Revolution fueled the rage and sensitivity towards such reckless behaviour, which later caused for the end of Monarchy and ushering into new democratic domains that means the basic pillars of democracy endowed the determining rights in the hands of citizens.
Now its practices depends upon the morale constraints of peoples because whatever will be the representation they would have most determining influences over it, and off course they keep holding magic key of the golden gate. So, one most abscond from shunning politics and politicians alone.
Off course there will be chances of exceptions because every judgment not necessarily have justification for representatives action as authority and opportunity are having some rapid quality of changes, which may or may not be as per the expectations of a democratic participant. Despite acknowledging variable human nature and core of Machiavellian tracts we can’t stop ourselves from being sanguine in our further action at democratic arena.
So, we have to learn making appropriate decision to strive better for our political as well as other key rights instead of becoming merely vocal towards political system or politician. We should have dare to stand with our judgment before frustrating over the act of politician.
Since they are not aroused in isolation; means our selections reflects our leaning in individual life. Even though some times we may caught in option-less circumstances due to ineligible options. To cope with such odds we have to strengthen the people’s initiatives in different domain to see on various options. Because even any utopia (political) can be succeeded only with the participatory action, so this could be best met with remedy from people’s side.
The primary stage of such deliberation should be started from prioritizing the common sacrosanct matters that must be based on principles of common good and in later phase of development our evasive attitudes should be wiped out, in its place a well-structured and meticulous plan should be formed for the further activism.
It must be kept in mind that for countering politician’s insensitivity; a great move of democratic reform among with active participation from every section of society would be extremely worthy. So, participatory action would be a major ‘strive’ in an effective quest of democratic restructuring in peoples favor. Sometimes it is evident philosophical during the layout and execution of any major democratic plan, but there is nothing wrong in it, as an initiation have to arouse from idea which later ushering into practical format; so, these are some initial complexities which get sort out with the time factor.
Time is ripe now for a democratic reform in India…meanwhile even some subtle change in peoples attitude can fetch many positive outcome from political system. At this juncture it would be quite essential to deify the both existing as well as potential culprits of democracy with their electoral rights during the contest.
Universal and adult suffrage are most prolific investment to cope with the odds of democracy…a consineful judgment can create a lot of difference in our public and personal sphere.A political system could not be run in isolation especially a democracy, which needs consistent feedback for its smooth functioning since it’s quite compatiable with it’s essence. There is no alternative of active and quality participation…quality means here the capacity to acknowledge the critical facts related to the governance and their own duty in civil life.
Achieving a realistic goal in a democracy requires dutiful involvement from its citizens. It would be most wise step to stop shunning politics or politicians for their idleness instead every realistic and efficient persons should come forward and lend their contribution for an effective democracy. One should not immune from politics but must keep oneself immune from its maladies. Reward and blame system must be availed by its participants (Both the voters and representatives) comprehensively.
Atul Kumar Thakur
New Delhi
April5,2009
atul_mdb@rediffmail.com
No doubt, the size, peaceful and punctual rotation of governments, diversified representation etc are some strong points in favor of Indian democratic system; but all such indications not necessarily ensures the proper representation of citizens will or genuine quest for own role in political system. Such passivity effects like a handicap on political system which lucidly evaporating the crux of democratic spirit as well as weakening the participatory structure.
Overall such happening creates sense of despair among masses regarding the role of authority, on the other end representatives by large unlikely felt any incentives regarding their role towards citizens.Why shunning politicians?
Indeed, it’s common realization that most of representatives falsified their promises during their tenure, to some extant claim is not wrong but it’s not entirely true, because we have to look at the exceptions too. In the sixty two years of post independence we could easily locate the increasing wave of corruption and dutilessness by politicians, though the scale of such tendencies was not so rampant in early phase because, ideal of freedom struggle was than existed amidst the political arena and leadership have had vision for national consolidation on various fronts.
In subsequent phase political arena immensely exposed to the tracts like opportunism, regionalism, castism, criminalisation, etc which all led to fractional way of politics where to cite idealism became day by day difficult and focus were hugely shifted from development path.
Statistically development remain on the right track but it’s bright side have been not availed equally by lower strata of society, here we got lag behind from our constitutional aim of inclusive development.
So, at this major front on establishment of socialistic principles largely jeopardized in the growth agenda. Such deterioration at public arena is not an independently aroused conditions rather it’s crystal reflexion of equally deteriorating civic morale among the citizens. Falling quality of citizens action towards their democratic rights is a major reason of their estrangement from decision-making mechanism of government.
Once,eminent political scientist Rajani Kothari coined a term” criminalisation of politics” on burgeoning proportion of criminals in politics later by naturalization of their presence it became imperative to modify the quotation as ”Politicization of criminals” which revealed the demerit of quick adoption among the citizens before any short of political representation. Rule in a democracy indeed aroused from the electoral management, which doesn’t allow any political party to come in limelight without having support from mass majority.
So, rule under any elected government signifies respectively by the majoritarian views, means largely representations reflects the morale judgments of Voters in a Democracy which is true at least in principles.
Their sensitivity or insensitivity could be best seen in their scale of tolerance of that particular representation which came in to force through their own act. A sensitive saying of Meri Antoniate (French Queen) during the great French Revolution fueled the rage and sensitivity towards such reckless behaviour, which later caused for the end of Monarchy and ushering into new democratic domains that means the basic pillars of democracy endowed the determining rights in the hands of citizens.
Now its practices depends upon the morale constraints of peoples because whatever will be the representation they would have most determining influences over it, and off course they keep holding magic key of the golden gate. So, one most abscond from shunning politics and politicians alone.
Off course there will be chances of exceptions because every judgment not necessarily have justification for representatives action as authority and opportunity are having some rapid quality of changes, which may or may not be as per the expectations of a democratic participant. Despite acknowledging variable human nature and core of Machiavellian tracts we can’t stop ourselves from being sanguine in our further action at democratic arena.
So, we have to learn making appropriate decision to strive better for our political as well as other key rights instead of becoming merely vocal towards political system or politician. We should have dare to stand with our judgment before frustrating over the act of politician.
Since they are not aroused in isolation; means our selections reflects our leaning in individual life. Even though some times we may caught in option-less circumstances due to ineligible options. To cope with such odds we have to strengthen the people’s initiatives in different domain to see on various options. Because even any utopia (political) can be succeeded only with the participatory action, so this could be best met with remedy from people’s side.
The primary stage of such deliberation should be started from prioritizing the common sacrosanct matters that must be based on principles of common good and in later phase of development our evasive attitudes should be wiped out, in its place a well-structured and meticulous plan should be formed for the further activism.
It must be kept in mind that for countering politician’s insensitivity; a great move of democratic reform among with active participation from every section of society would be extremely worthy. So, participatory action would be a major ‘strive’ in an effective quest of democratic restructuring in peoples favor. Sometimes it is evident philosophical during the layout and execution of any major democratic plan, but there is nothing wrong in it, as an initiation have to arouse from idea which later ushering into practical format; so, these are some initial complexities which get sort out with the time factor.
Time is ripe now for a democratic reform in India…meanwhile even some subtle change in peoples attitude can fetch many positive outcome from political system. At this juncture it would be quite essential to deify the both existing as well as potential culprits of democracy with their electoral rights during the contest.
Universal and adult suffrage are most prolific investment to cope with the odds of democracy…a consineful judgment can create a lot of difference in our public and personal sphere.A political system could not be run in isolation especially a democracy, which needs consistent feedback for its smooth functioning since it’s quite compatiable with it’s essence. There is no alternative of active and quality participation…quality means here the capacity to acknowledge the critical facts related to the governance and their own duty in civil life.
Achieving a realistic goal in a democracy requires dutiful involvement from its citizens. It would be most wise step to stop shunning politics or politicians for their idleness instead every realistic and efficient persons should come forward and lend their contribution for an effective democracy. One should not immune from politics but must keep oneself immune from its maladies. Reward and blame system must be availed by its participants (Both the voters and representatives) comprehensively.
Atul Kumar Thakur
New Delhi
April5,2009
atul_mdb@rediffmail.com
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