A close look at our democracy
SRB
Eligible voters: For good reasons, only adults are allowed to vote
in elections to Parliament and Assemblies (the pillars of democracy). But this
leaves out a large percentage of our population which unfortunately includes many
teenagers (unlike in the past) who are more capable of balanced thinking and energetic action to
safeguard democracy than a much larger number of adults, particularly
among the large number of illiterates. Moreover, a large proportion of adults
are not interested in voting. Sad to say, attempts have not been made to
ascertain the reasons for this. Absence of the truly
democratic and sensible right to reject all candidates when none are suitable
has swelled this group. What is worse, enormous number of voters is only
interested in selling their votes and making a mockery of democracy. It is
pertinent that both these groups, which are not
at all bothered about safeguarding democracy, form a large
proportion of voters and vitiate elections. Further, there are errors (both
human and manipulated) in voters’ lists. To sustain a vibrant
democracy, quality of voters is much more important than extent
of coverage of multiform adult population. Inability to confine
eligibility to all suitable voters only and to make them interested in voting is the first drawback which
results in a distorted and ineffective democracy.
Elections: Let us assume that, at best, an average of
about 70 % of eligible adults votes during elections. Most elected persons
receive much less than 50% of the total votes cast. Therefore, at best, most elected persons represent less than 35% of adult population, often much less. This
proportion will be substantially decreased further if we exclude votes of those
who do not really contribute to a fair choice of
representatives because of their interest in selling their votes. This grossly inadequate and perverted representation of people
is the second
drawback which results in a distorted and ineffective democracy.
Cost of elections: Governments have to spend enormous amounts of money
to organize elections even though they fail to a throw up a fair choice of
representatives. Huge amounts of public money
are wasted because the main purpose of ensuring
true democracy is not achieved (as explained earlier also).
Candidates for election and political parties who sponsor them also have to
spend enormous amounts. They are happy to do so
only because the system gives them unfair opportunities to amass wealth.
This attracts criminal mafia also to get elected by using money power or
intimidation. Thus, the system of elections not only fails to achieve its aim of
ensuring democracy despite the huge cost but also is the root
cause of unlimited corruption and control by mafia. This is the third drawback which
results in a distorted and ineffective democracy.
Representation through political parties: None of the political parties generally secure
majority of even the votes cast let alone majority of adult population.
Moreover, a sizeable proportion of even the votes received might have been
bought. Therefore, the claim of being representatives of people is hollow
even when they mange to form governments. Further, vast
majority of elected persons are not free to express their opinions frankly to
support the needs and feelings of people whom they represent because
of being subservient to their party leaders and use of whip while voting. Subtle
threats to curb dissent are also not uncommon. The resultant combination of subservience and fear psychosis has led to some sort
of dictatorship within political parties. Hardly any
political party has effective internal democracy. This shows their lack of respect for democracy. Further, party interests get much higher priority than
national and state interests.
Callousness about
national and state interests has led to many serious consequences. While number of millionaires and extravagant spending
by many thousands of people to show off wealth are shooting up, poverty and hunger continue to be alarming. India
has a very low ranking (134 out of 167
countries in 2011) in UN Human Development Index, which highlights our abysmally low socio-economic level unlike the misleading
GDP. The situation is actually more alarming because there has been deterioration
from the earlier rank of 122 out of 170 in
2010 (a fall of 12 points instead of improvement wrongly highlighted by GDP
growth). Further, in the
Multidimensional Poverty Index complied by UN for 109 countries India ranks highest.
These show beyond any doubt that the rich poor gap has widened further
despite the misleading GDP growth. A
World Bank report ranked India a lowly 134th
out of 183 countries for ease of doing business and world’s
second worst for enforcing contracts. A recent survey by the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development has shown that 15-year old Indian
students fared 2nd worst among 73
countries for reading, mathematics and science.
Malnutrition is widespread and alarming.
According to World Health Organization, 50% of Indian children are either underweight
or stunted. Foeticide to get rid of girl
child is ridiculously high. Even in information technology, which gives pride of place
for India and boosts employment and income, its use for e-governance has fallen from an already dismal rank of 119 to 124 in
2012, as shown by a UN e-government survey!
It is likely that there
are many more of such deplorable situations waiting to be highlighted. Have any of our political parties bothered to think about all these manifold shameful situations, let
alone take any action? Have any questions on these been at least raised
in Parliament? It is a pity that instead of hanging
their heads in shame, political parties assume airs of superiority and
feel smug and exhilarated. No wonder, people have lost respect for politicians and even Parliament and
Assemblies.
On the other hand, there is no shortage of talented persons in political parties.
If only they were encouraged (or at least allowed) to think and act giving more
priority to national interest than to party interest, India’s position would
not have been so shameful in so many aspects. A pertinent example is that when
Dr. Manmohan Singh was allowed to think and act
in national interest, he boldly saved
the country from disgrace by the reforms he brought out. Unfortunately,
it seems that he is not in a position (or mood) now to give priority to
national interests and boldly bring out further reforms in peoples’ interest
(e.g., rooting out corruption, controlling inflation and reducing inequalities
etc.). Most elected leaders (including brilliant
ones) are puppets in the hands of a coterie within parties. The former do
not bother about this as long as they are able to amass wealth or retain their
position of importance.
The aspects discussed above constitute the fourth (may be the most
serious) drawback which results in a distorted and ineffective democracy. We
have to seriously ask ourselves whether having
political parties helps or hinders democracy!
Government formation: Selection of Prime Minister (PM) / Chief Minister (CM)
is often influenced by hero worship on the one hand and fear psychosis on the
other. Moreover, the method of selection does not have even a semblance of democracy.
A coterie of most influential leaders of the party (or parties) which form
government makes the selection and a farcical election is conducted to give pretence of democracy. As a result, the PM and CMs do not
have firm majority support and are not able to function effectively. They
have to even support ministers who are corrupt, inefficient or acting against
national / state interest, instead of taking action against them. PM / CM and the
coterie of influential leaders then select ministers and allot portfolios to
them. Experience and efficiency in carrying out required functions are supposed
to play a part. But in reality there are number of extraneous considerations and
power play which are not conducive to running an efficient government in a
democratic manner. Non-government members of the coterie exercise powers
without accountability. All these actually result in a type of subtle and invisible dictatorship
rather than democracy. This is the fifth
and serious drawback which results in a distorted and ineffective democracy.
Political leaders: An important aspect of present day leadership is
that higher the level of leaders in the hierarchy
the more distant they are from people. Moreover, from leaders they rapidly transform themselves into bosses
and feel smug and exhilarated. They start dictating to other elected leaders, civil
society leaders and professional experts rather than patiently listening to
them to ascertain problems and their views. They distribute favours and / or money
to sustain bossism and increasingly tend to believe that favours and money can
buy any thing. Sad to say, they rarely fail. When they do, they join together
to curb disagreement. Another bossing strategy is to cleverly manipulate
creation of caste and regional conflicts as well as cliques and other
favourable conditions to safeguard their interests
and to promote dependency among
people, rather than sincerely helping them to
have a reasonably good quality of life, besides enjoying peace and freedom.
Higher their manipulating efficiency the stronger and dictatorial they become. They
are openly delighted when people go to them with “begging bowl” or at least hang
around them (often with garlands or tempting offerings) and worship them. Modesty, humility, simplicity, sincerity of purpose and
an ethics of care for aam admi
steadily decrease with their ascendancy in power. They tend to forget that true respect from public has to be earned and cannot be bought
or made to order. This is the sixth drawback which results in a distorted and
ineffective democracy.
How Parliament / Assemblies work: The
callous and interrupted manner in which these institutions work is notorious and
has resulted in loss of respect for these
institutions, besides huge wastage of
public money. Attitude of members and their actions often show
that they are more guided by their party’s interest than by national and
state interests. Disruptions and walk outs are so common that lot of
time and public money are wasted. Moreover, because of absenteeism quorum is
often lacking. Shameful “photographic” exposures of members sleeping or
watching porn during sessions speak volumes about their lack of desirable character, dignity and sense of responsibility. All these show absence of both accountability and interest in the work
for which they have been elected by people. Yet, they quite often greedily
and shamelessly vote without conscience to increase their remuneration and
perquisites (which are already high), forgetting that they have neither fulfilled their responsibilities to ensure
development and peace in the country nor acted sincerely to reduce suffering of
lakhs of people. Instead of
helping the poor and down trodden, they have repeatedly helped the richer
classes to become richer. Such undemocratic and inhuman practices also have led
to the abysmal fall
in respectability of Parliament and Assemblies and their members and have
given room for stinking
remarks like the following (for example): “…..the glaring tale of how a
handful of companies are becoming abnormally wealthy by amassing an obscene
amount of land and natural resources, that too at throw away prices, thanks to
the dacoits running this country in the garb of politicians” (page 12, Deccan Chronicle,
Bangalore dated 13-04-12). How many of the MPs /
MLAs have at least frowned about the manifold shameful situations faced
by the country (pointed out in this and earlier paragraphs)?
On the other hand, there are highly talented
and principled persons in Parliament and Assemblies. If only they were allowed
to talk freely, these institutions could have witnessed excellent healthy debates
on topics of national / regional / state interest, which could have ensured respect
and credibility for themselves and these institutions.
Since attempts to stem the suicidal
rot in these institutions,
which are the pillars of democracy, are sadly
lacking, disillusionments, antagonism, cynicism,
intolerance, hostility and violence have already crossed danger levels in many areas
(e.g., Maoism, separatism, attempts at disintegration, manipulated violent
protests, ethnic violence and disgruntled or intolerant groups taking to the
streets and burning vehicles at the drop of a hat, in many areas) and more are likely to follow. This is the seventh
and very serious drawback which results in a distorted and ineffective
democracy.
Definition of democracy: Democracy is defined as: “government of the people,
by the people and for the people.” Justice Santosh Hegde said: “Instead, it has
become of the elected, by the elected and for the elected.” Even views of all
elected representatives hardly come into the picture. Therefore, “Government of some elected, by some elected and for
some elected” represents the reality better!
Mahatma Gandhi, “Father of our
Nation”, who had fought for freedom, dignity and democracy throughout his life
would be most unhappy if he were alive today. But how many of our present
leaders, who glorify him on Gandhi Jayanthi day, really care? It is pertinent
that the government has been sitting for more than 7 years on poll reforms
suggested by the Election Commission. Therefore, it is naïve
to depend on government to initiate even electoral reforms, let alone save
democracy. It
is high time we ask ourselves: Are
we happy with the present distorted and ineffective democracy which is more
like a subtle invisible dictatorship? Is not the present pseudo
democracy against the spirit of our Constitution?
Can we depend on the government or political
parties to really take interest in bringing in reforms which are
suicidal to the greedy and selfish interests of some influential political
leaders? Should we not wake up and act in a peaceful manner to
usher in true and vibrant democracy? Many more crucial questions can be added!
“The important thing is not to stop
questioning” Albert Einstein
Without further waste of time, people with vision among our social activists, legal
experts, the media and younger generation ought to take
keen and sustained interest, study these
aspects thoroughly and suggest alternate systems for ensuring a true and
vibrant democracy, before violent protests spread widely and rock the
country. These should then be debated thoroughly with the help of media to
arrive at a consensus and adopted, if necessary, by making changes in our
Constitution. This is the peaceful way to
save our democracy and prevent a violent revolution, similar to what is
occurring in some countries, which may not be far off otherwise. If we
do not make
such joint efforts now posterity will blame us for our callousness
which led to anarchy and violence.
All that is necessary for the triumph
of evil is for good men to do nothing”
Edmund Burke
“There can be efforts that fail but
there should not be a failure of efforts”
anonymous
