Indian Democracy under Threat
Increasing poverty, environmental degradation, crime and corruption are plaguing the society
SK Sharma

The Problem

India attained freedom from colonial rule 50 years ago.  Because of colonial mindsets and influenced by Soviet practices, the founding fathers instituted a centralised democracy.  Most resources are concentrated with the central government which through Soviet type centralised planning and a controlled economy devolves them for pre-conceived local programmes.  Local governments are weak and the people have little say in decision-making.

Such practices have led to the growth of a massive state bureaucracy and a huge public sector which are not accountable to the people.  Overheads, misuse, wastage and corruption have reached alarming proportions.  The recent reforms for democratic decentralisation are half-hearted, ineffective and have already become corrupted.

The entire political system is losing credibility.  Unless something is done soon, the nation may land itself in anarchy or worse.

Gandhi’s Vision

Gandhi had a clear vision for free India.  He identified himself with the common people and acquired understanding about their traumas and aspirations.  He realised that given the choice, they would want every village to function as a self-sustaining republic.  They would also want district (or county) governments controlling resources needed by them and having exclusive jurisdiction over all local matters.

The modernists thought that Gandhi was taking the nation back in history when what he was offering was not much different from a Swiss or US democracy.  They rejected his village governments and imposed an exploitative centralised rule in which a few control power and the common people have no control over their lives.

The Solution

Gandhi added some special features for social justice and equity.  These are:

The root cause of the problems faced by India lies in its exploitative centralised democracy.  The solution is to replace it by one based on Gandhi’s concepts combined with tested practices from the best amongst the democracies of the world.  In fact, it is the solution for most of the third world.

Obstacles

The main obstacle in realising a true people’s democracy in countries in which centralised democracies are entrenched is that having acquired centralised colonial power, the political system is unwilling to let go of it.  Since the legislators who alone can change the constitution have a vested interest in the status quo, the people are apparently locked into a closed exploitative system. 

For this reason, most people do not even want to talk of  these reforms. Professionals and NGOs who have been practising within the present system, often have difficulty in comprehending the concepts.  Some fear the possible dislocation that might result. Others are hesitant to empower the illiterate. A strategy is needed to break this deadlock.

Economic reforms are often projected as the panacea for all ills.  Globalisation, though  desirable, can be lopsided and can increase the traumas of the poor unless their communities are empowered.

The Strategy

The people in democracies constitute the sovereign and have certain sovereign rights. These are:

1  Right to information.

2  Right to be consulted through public hearings.

3  Right to participate in planning and councils.

4  Right to decide through referendum.
 

Gandhiji was truly a man of the twenty-first century. 
Scholars say that he was born 100 years
ahead of his time and as such,
the world did not understand him

These rights are intrinsic to democracy and exist even if not provided for in a constitution.

The sovereign people should take command and institute reforms though referendum.  People First has proposed the concept of Sovereign Right Commissions at the national and state levels to properly institute these rights and oversee that they are not violated. 

An important function of the Commissions will be to process people’s proposals for reforms through referendum.  People First is preparing a case for seeking a writ from the superior courts on this.  It will file a public interest petition on January 30, 1998, the 50th death anniversary of Gandhi.  q

                              SK Sharma                                                                              Sunil Shastri, Chairman
                                                          People First                                                                                            Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Foundation

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