socialscience

ST. THOMAS TRAINING COLLEGE

ST. THOMAS NAGAR, MUKKOLAKKAL TRIVANDRUM-695044

ONLINE ASSIGNMENT 2013-14

NAME OF THE TRAINEE: SINU S

OPTIONAL SUBJECT: SOCIAL SCIENCE

REG.NO:13386008

TOPIC: CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACY

v INTRODUCTION

We are proud to be the largest democracy in the world for more than sixty five years. we have witnessed the conduct of successful elections, peaceful changes of government at the centre and in the states people exercising freedom of expression, movement and religion. India has also been developing and transforming economically and socially. At the same time we quite, often, listen complains about prevalent in equalities, injustice or non – fulfillment of expectations of certain sections of the society. You have already read in earlier unit that democracy means ‘Government of the people, for the people, for the people, and by the people, it means democracy is not limited to just a process of election, but also fulfilling social and economic aspirations of the people. In India we keep on debating these various aspects of democracy and its achievements and challenges. The challenges come both from prevailing domestic and international conditions as well as lack of adequate prerequisites for a smooth functioning of democracy.

v MAJOR CHALLENGES TO INDIAN DEMOCRACY ARE GIVEN BELOW

1. ILLITERACY

Illiteracy among people was a matter of grave concern for the successful functioning of democracy in India on the eve if independence and it still continues to be a major challenge. The level of education of citizens is a key to both the successful functioning of democracy and socio- economic development of the country and perhaps, more importantly, it is an essential condition for human dignity.

Literacy enables citizens to be aware of various Issues, Problems, Demands, and interests in the country. It also makes them conscious of the principles of liberty and equality of all and ensures that the representatives elected by them truly represent all the interests in the society. Universal literacy is therefore a must for the successful functioning of Indian democracy. Although according to 2011 census, the literacy rate has risen to 74.04%, the female literacy rate is still lagging at 65.46 %. This means that over one-fourth of the country’s population is still illiterate while among women nearly one out three is not literate. If the children have access to basic education, the problem of illiteracy can be checked. Recently, the right to education is provided as a fundamental right. We hope that this will help the cause we of educating the children universally.

2. POVERTY

It is generally said that for a hungry person right to vote does not have any meaning. For him/her the first requirement is food. Therefore poverty is considered as the greatest bane of democracy. It is, in fact, the root cause of all kinds of deprivations and inequalities. It is the state of denial of opportunities to people to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. Of course, India inherited poverty from the long exploitative British colonial rule, but it continues to be one of the gravest problems today. Even now a considerable proportion of Indian population lives below poverty line, called ‘BPL’. During the 1990s non-food items like clothes, employment, shelter in the definition of poverty. The persisting phenomenon of poverty is attributed to many factors, one of which is mass unemployment and under-employment. A large number of people in rural areas do not have regular and adequate work. In urban areas also the number of educated unemployed is very high. The growing population is regarded as a reason for poverty, though population is considered as the greatest resource in the country. In fact, the process of economic development has not been able to ensure social justice and gap between rich and poor has not been bridged. Because of all this, poverty continues to remain a great challenge to democracy.

3. GENDER DISCRIMINATION

Discrimination against girls and women exists in every walks of life. You must have had such experiences of prevailing gender inequality in our society and polity. But we know that gender equality is one of the basic principles of democracy. The constitution of India enjoins upon the state to ensure that men and women are treated as equals and there is no discrimination against women. The number of females in comparison to males has been declining ever since 1901. In 1901, the sex ratio was 972 females per 1000 males. According to 2011 census it is 940 females per 1000 males which is still very unfavorable to females. It has been declining because of several factors, like the prevailing preference for male child, discriminatory treatment against the girl child right after birth, and the increasing incidence of female in fanticides and female foeticides. By using technology, people are forcing mothers to get the fetus of a female child aborted. The infant mortality rate among girl children is high, as compared to that among boy childrens.

4. CASTEISM, COMMUNALISM, RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM

The Indian democracy faces serious challenges also from casteism, communalism and religious fundamentalism. They weaken the functioning and stability of democratic system.

a. Casteism: The caste system which presumably originated in the division of labour in the ancient society has become a more or less rigid group classification, based on birth. Have you ever experienced the role of caste in your life and society? You will agree that the most detrimental and in human aspect of the caste system is the practice of untouchability which is continuing in spite of the constitutional ban imposed on it. This has led to segregation of so called low castes or ‘Dalits’, depriving them of education and other social benefits. The Dalits have been typically performing menial labour and some of the hardest physical work in society. Casteism has played a negative role even in the democratic political processes. In fact, casteism has become notorious as a strategy of exploitation of caste consciousness for narrow political gains. The caste system acts against the roots of democracy. The democratic facilities - like fundamental rights relating to equality, freedom of speech, expression and association, participation in the electoral process, free media and press, and even legislative forums - are misused for maintaining casteist identity.

Casteism has also been contributing towards continuation of socio-economic inequalities. It is true that India has been an unequal society from times immemorial. The Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the backward classes have suffered down the ages from socio-economic deprivations. There are enormous inequalities in our society which are posing serious challenge to Indian democracy. What is more alarming is the mixing of caste and politics resulting into ‘politicization of caste’ and ‘casteization of politics’ in contemporary Indian polity which has become a grave challenge to our democracy. Despite the era of liberalization and globalization caste consciousness has not been eroded in our society and castes are being increasingly used as vote bank politics.

b. Communalism: Communalism and religious fundamentalism have acquired a very dangerous form and alarming proportion in India. They disrupt the pattern of co-existence in our multi-religious society. Communalism is an affront to India’s nationalist identity and a tragic setback to its evolving secular culture. It is subversive of our democratic political stability and destroyer of our glorious heritage of humanism and composite culture. Quite often, communalism is wrongly used as a synonym for religion or conservatism. Adherence to a religion or attachment to a religious community is not communalism.

Although conservatism represents social backwardness, it does not mean communalism either. As a matter of fact, communalism is an ideology of political allegiance to a religious community. It uses one religious community against other communities and perceives other religious communities as its enemies. It is opposed to secularism and even humanism. One of the manifestations of communalism is communal riots. In recent past also, communalism has proved to be a great threat to our social and political life on several occasions. Can you recollect some communal incidents that have occurred in the recent past?

c. Religious Fundamentalism: Religious fundamentalism also reinforces communalists in exploiting both religion and politics. In fact, fundamentalism acts as an ideology which advocates a return to orthodoxy and a strict compliance to the fundamental tenets of religion. Religious fundamentalists vehemently oppose progressive reforms in order to establish their exclusive control on their respective communities.

5. REGIONALISM

Indian democracy has also been struggling with regionalism which is primarily an outcome of regional disparities and imbalances in development. We all know that India is a plural country with diversities of religions, languages, communities, tribes and cultures. A number of cultural and linguistic groups are concentrated in certain territorial segments. Although development process in the country aims at growth and development of all regions, the regional disparities and imbalances in terms of differences in per capita income, literacy rates, state of health and educational infrastructure and services, population situation and levels of industrial and agricultural development continue to exist. Existence and continuation of regional inequalities both among States and within a State create a feeling of neglect, deprivation and discrimination. This situation has led to regionalism manifested in demands for creation of new States, autonomy or more powers to States or even secession from the country. It is true that regionalism and sub-regionalism are unavoidable in a vast and plural country like India. It is not always correct to consider every attempt to support or defend regional or sub-regional interests as divisive, fissiparous and unpatriotic. The problem begins when these interests are politicized and regional movements are promoted for ulterior political motives. Such unhealthy regional or sub-regional patriotism is cancerous and disruptive. The continuing regional imbalances have given rise to militant movements in certain parts of our country. Separatist demands in Jammu and Kashmir or by ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) in Assam or by different groups in the North-Eastern region are matters of grave concern for Indian polity.

6. CORRUPTION

Corruption in public life has been a major concern in India. In 2011, India was ranked 95th of 183 countries defined as corrupt in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). In fact, corruption is rampant in all walks of life, be it land and property, health, education, commerce and industry, agriculture, transport, police, armed forces, even religious institutions or so called places of spiritual pursuits. Corruption continues to exist in covert and overt ways at all three levels - political, bureaucratic and corporate sector. One can see the nexus between the politicians, the bureaucrats and the industrialists which has resulted into corruption and corrupt practices. The tentacles of corruption have affected all organs of government, including the judiciary.

Above all, corruption in electoral processes and bribing of voters who participate in elections at different levels has now become a common practice. Have you or your friends observed this happening during elections in the recent past? In recent years, various scams have been coming out in our country in quick succession. In fact, corruption is a sign of political instability and institutional decay, challenging seriously the validity and propriety of governance. We as citizens should take a vow not to indulge in corrupt practices at any level and contribute in eliminating corruption from our country.

7. CRIMINALIZATION OF POLITICS

In recent years, criminalization of politics in India has become a debatable issue. There have been allegations that there are some elements in politics who do not have faith in democratic values and practices. They indulge in violence and take refuge in other unhealthy, undemocratic methods to win elections. Undoubtedly, this is not a healthy trend in politics and there is an urgent need to apply serious check on such tendencies. Criminalization of politics is the very negation of democratic values and has no place in a democratic set up. Democracy can be strengthened by adopting and promoting democratic values and shunning criminal activities. Recently, the judiciary, while taking a serious note of criminal tendencies in politics, has showed signs of adopting remedial measures to apply a serious check on such elements. The Central government and many State governments have been taking steps to address this issue effectively. This is a matter of great satisfaction and a healthy sign for the successful functioning of democracy in our country. We, as awakened citizens and as voters of the largest democracy in the world, can also contribute by discouraging such persons who have a criminal background, from contesting elections.

8. POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Violence has been with us for long, but use of violence for political end is dangerous for the existence of any system. In India we have been witnessing various forms of violence. Communal violence, caste violence and political violence in general have attained serious proportion. Communal riots are engineered by vested interests for political, religious and economic reasons. Caste violence in various shapes has been increasing. Despite agricultural development, abolition of zamindari system, and developments like green revolution and white revolution, there are still powerful feudal elements in the society. A serious conflict of interests has emerged between higher and middle castes and this has led to aggressive competition for political power which many a time leads to violence.

Another aspect of caste violence is the backlash of the higher castes against the growing awareness and assertion of their rights by the Dalits and lower castes, particularly the Scheduled Castes and the backward castes. During elections, violence is being adopted either to mobilize voters or to prevent them from exercising their right to vote. Moreover, violence has been associated with demands for separate States, reorganization of States or adjustment of State boundaries. Violence has also been used quite frequently during industrial strikes, farmers’ movements, and students’ agitations.

9. GLOBALISATION

‘Effects of Globalisation on Democracy’ is a sub-theme of the ‘Democracy’ theme, which explores the notion of democracy in relation to global civil society. The ‘Democracy’ theme explores issues of accountability and legitimacy are examined from the level of individual civil society groups to the nation state and beyond, with particular attention paid to the impact of Globalisation on democracy and to emerging alternatives to the formal democracy of the Western tradition.

For those who view deliberation and dialogue as central to democracy, this strife is troubling. Yet it need not spell the futility of democratic practice at the global level. Indeed, this contentious international reality closely resembles the raucousness of democratic politics within nations. The diversity of values in contemporary societies, and their proponents’ passion for them, mean that staid debate signals either an issue’s triviality – or the subtle workings of hegemonic power. Instead, what cases like the global small arms and light weapons contest suggest are problems with deliberative democracy theory, both empirically and normatively. Clashes are endemic not just to gun control, but to any number of other global issues, from climate change to family planning. Democratic practice, difficult enough at the global level, must accommodate these profound divergences and the brawling tactics they spur. In turn, democratic theorists must use new tools to understand these realities and strengthen global politics in the face of profound disagreement. While some may cover their ears and wring their hands at the din, it is and always has been a hallmark of political debate. Indeed, as Chantal Mouffe (2005) argues, such conflict is the essence of the political both in domestic and in global arenas.

10. TERRORISM

“Whoever fights monsters shall see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look long into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you.” —Nietzsche

The monster attacked us again, this time in Mumbai, with all its force. In perhaps the most well-planned operation the terrorists engaged the security forces for more than two days, costing us some 200 lives, besides heavy losses in material terms and wealth. This particular attack has led to a countrywide anger and debate.

What Does Terrorism Want?

TERROR is not just a simple act; it is a cowardly and dastardly act. It is a strategy meant to destroy a whole people, irrespective of religion and belief. It is medieval revivalism used by the extremist forces in capitalism and imperialism. Terrorism is used by the most extreme communalists, pseudo-religionists and revivalists to cover up the crisis of imperialism and finance capital.. Let it be clear that they are downright cowards, otherwise they won’t stealthily use the most advanced and sophisticated weapons against totally unarmed and innocent people, used as sitting ducks. This can only come about by shedding the last drop of humanity. Terrorism and terrorists use innocent children, old men and women, not to talk of able-bodied young men and women, as their target to spread terror and break the spirit of the people, to disorient them into panic.

Yes, that is the aim of terror: break the spirit of the people, so that they are not able to think soberly and sensibly, coherently and clearly. Terrorism, most of all, wants to create dissensions and disunity among the people of the country, as of the whole world. It aims at incapacitating the people and the country so that they do not go on with their normal life and are not able to solve their social, economic and political problems.

v CONCLUSION

Indian democracy over the years has been able to articulate many of the essential conditions. It is confronting a number of challenges that at times bring out the distortions which have crept in and also indicate the possible threats to its future. However, Indian democracy can be successful and vibrant only when its citizens imbibe and reflect in their behaviour the basic democratic like equality, freedom, social justice, accountability and respect for all.