Strengthen PRIs to Strengthen Grass Root Democracy ------------------------------------------------------------------ Elections are the only proof of democracy in India. After casting vote people have no power over policies and actions of those whom they elected. It is a harsh reality that the so-called biggest democracy of the world is still ruled within the framework of colonial laws and practically in the same manner. Once the formality of elections is performed the elected representatives join hands with other rich and influences entities and go about their activities in virtual isolation from the people. This has created a culture where there is virtually zero accountability for top politicians, bureaucrats, or powerful business entities. In recent years the politician-bureaucrat-corporate nexus has emerged as the biggest threat for the health of Indian democracy. At the Center, a few bureaucrats in the Planning Commission decide everything without any sensible and systematic input from the people whose lives are affected by their actions. This commission was devised about half a century ago following Nehru’s romance with Socialist Principles which makes the State above people and gives it authority to decide what is good for its citizens. Consulting people becomes a secondary issue in this thinking. The weaker and marginalized sections of society, which form over half of country’s population, have virtually no say or role in this Centralized Planning process. In reality, they even have no forum to raise their concerns and be heard. The solution lies in reversing the philosophy of top-down planning. It must start from the bottom – from the Gram Sabhas and Panchayats of the villages and talukas, moving to Panchayats at the districts level, and then to State or Center level. For large projects like dams covering vast areas discussions and informed consent of the Panchayats of all the affected areas must be made mandatory and before acquiring any land all issues related to possible displacement and livelihood must be resolved before taking up the project. People living in the far off areas are the biggest victims of the development projects when the government acquires land for development purposes. This is a serious humanitarian issue because India still does not have a proper resettlement and rehabilitation law for displaced and affected people. Another disturbing trend has emerged recently: state governments acquire land for public purpose under the century-old colonial land Acquisition Act and then later auction or sell it to builders or corporate houses at throw away prices. It is another example of nexus between rich/influential people and bureaucrats/politicians. It can be achieved decentralization of power by strengthening the local governing bodies – the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) starting from the grass root Gram Sabha, as envisaged in the 73rd constitutional amendment (PRI Act) of 1992. It paved the way for fructifying Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of “Gram Swarajya” (village self-rule) for free India by providing a legal base for people’s self-rule. It envisioned holding regular Panchayat elections at all levels and respecting and giving legitimacy to their decisions. Unfortunately, State governments, legislators, and bureaucrats have been so far remained reluctant to give up their privileges and divulge powers to the elected Panchayats. Tribal Gram Sabha The same philosophy was extended to the tribal dominated areas that are notified under the Fifth Schedule of the constitution through the PESA Act of 1996 which specifically talk about empowering the grass root Gram Sabhas and allowing the tribal communities to rule themselves according to their traditional lifestyle. The 8 percent tribal population is the most marginalized section of Indian democracy; the mainstream politicians and society has virtually left them ignored even in “free India.” In recent years, they have started making headlines in the news media due to their protests and agitations against acquisition of their lands and forest resources. Policy makers sitting in the capital towns have been selling their lands and habitations, which happen to sit over vast reservoirs of mineral wealth, to ultra-rich corporate lobby for commercial exploitation which will ultimately benefit the urban India. This reflects a serious flaw in the functioning of Indian democracy which offers to platform to its weaker sections to raise their concerns. Honest implementation of the PRI and PESA Acts will drastically change the face of Indian democracy by allowing voice to the major section of Indian population living in the rural areas. At present poor masses are almost totally disenfranchised and excluded from the processes of the mainstream society and developmental activities; all power is concentrated in the hands of a minor fraction of rich and powerful people living in the cities and capital towns and they decide everything. It is rather unfortunate that even after two decades of the PRI Act, states have not shown meaningful interest in empowering the PRIs.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:05:17 +0000
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