DailyPost 2775
DISORIENTED DEMOCRACY
What is a disoriented democracy? When the basic orientation to the well laid down norms, the legally mandated ones, are given a go by; by camouflage or because of vested agenda or ignorance or manipulation, to belittle the very purpose of its creation, it is termed a disoriented democracy. If you see the world around you, you would find most of it working in this manner. It also means the movers and shakers have faith in the system, only till such time it delivers for them, in the process takes the nuts and bolts of democracy to a creaky level. It reaches a level that even if you want to, it will not deliver.
Have we reached that level or are we in the process of it? For sure we are in its process, but we are descending pretty fast. How much of the law does the law makers know? What is their demonstrated capability at making worthwhile laws that have stood the test of time and rigor of practice in the last 75 years of our democratic existence? How far have the laws been able to keep abreast with the developments in our society, economy, trade, crime, finance and above all to keep in the check, supervise and monitor the technological onslaught.
The constitution finds its expression through the laws of the land and its meaningful enforcement. How far have we reached in this direction? The jury remains badly divided. Next is transparency, the sine-quo-non of any fully functional and robust democracy. Transparency can sort out a large number of issues in the public domain and can elevate the quality of life and ease of living. In the current day and age with tech enablement with a clear cut purpose of near total transparency can be achieved. It can do wonders to any democracy. With opaqueness in governance the norm, transparency is just lip service. The recent turning down of electoral bonds by the Supreme Court can be a case in point. An open data policy can transform the nation.
From strengthening our claim to our basic rights to ushering in innovation and creativity, it can take us on the right trajectory. Rule of law is our north star, and what better way to make it happen but through free and fair investigation. Needless to say, quality of investigation, is dependent on quite a few factors and needless to say that wherewithal from human expertise to tech wherewithal has to be provided for. Does our political class have a commitment to it? The general opinion would not go in favour of the existence of quality investigation in the country. Vitiated by politics and inefficiency, India cannot digest this investigation cocktail any further. Freebies in lieu of responsive and deliverable governance and non-establishment of universal quality education and healthcare regime speaks volumes of our now disoriented democracy.
TIGHTENED BY STRICT LEGAL, ENFORCEMENT AND DELIVERY PROCESS WITH QUALITY AT ITS CORE, IS THE ONLY WAY TO DEMOCRATICALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE.
Sanjay Sahay
Have a great evening.