There are fundamental rights guaranteed to every citizen of India. But, have these guarantees enshrined and venerated in our constitution reached us? Has it manifested itself or does it stay hidden? Has the state been successful in ensuring these rights? These are complex issues and there can not be a yes or no answers to them. We can not treat them simplistically and have sweeping generalizations.
We have a democratically elected government, an independent judiciary acting as the custodian to the constitution and then there is a press and a vibrant civil society.
Democracy has ensured that we have a popular government representing us.But, is it popular enough or representative enough? The electoral system has ensured that a person getting even about 20% of votes can be our representative. Elections are still fought along caste lines. The Election commission says that there is huge amount of black money used. The parliament has not been able to function for last 2 sessions. This is symptomatic of a larger malaise afflicting the system. The government has lost credibility and accountability in the eyes of a layman. There has been a massive erosion of trust. Government in its own plan papers says that there is a huge governance deficit. Realpolitik has thwarted public policy. There is a tacit understanding among political parties, corporate houses and press to cover up for each other.
This is India's spoils system at work. It is a sort of 'Honour among thieves'. State with its legitimate coercive rights has become the biggest bully in town. They have not spared even the high office of CAG which has been a thorn in the flesh for sometime from the petty politics of aspersions and insinuations.
India with its diversity faces a whole gamut of diverse issues of corruption, crony capitalism, poverty, malnutrition, plight of women, illiteracy and many more. But, how can these issues be solved if the Fountainhead of power is itself poisoned with corruption?
We have a democratically elected government, an independent judiciary acting as the custodian to the constitution and then there is a press and a vibrant civil society.
Democracy has ensured that we have a popular government representing us.But, is it popular enough or representative enough? The electoral system has ensured that a person getting even about 20% of votes can be our representative. Elections are still fought along caste lines. The Election commission says that there is huge amount of black money used. The parliament has not been able to function for last 2 sessions. This is symptomatic of a larger malaise afflicting the system. The government has lost credibility and accountability in the eyes of a layman. There has been a massive erosion of trust. Government in its own plan papers says that there is a huge governance deficit. Realpolitik has thwarted public policy. There is a tacit understanding among political parties, corporate houses and press to cover up for each other.
This is India's spoils system at work. It is a sort of 'Honour among thieves'. State with its legitimate coercive rights has become the biggest bully in town. They have not spared even the high office of CAG which has been a thorn in the flesh for sometime from the petty politics of aspersions and insinuations.
India with its diversity faces a whole gamut of diverse issues of corruption, crony capitalism, poverty, malnutrition, plight of women, illiteracy and many more. But, how can these issues be solved if the Fountainhead of power is itself poisoned with corruption?
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