ALARMING STATE OF DEMOCRACY

                                                         ALARMING STATE OF DEMOCRACY

Immediately after Independence, our democratic set up was established with good intentions to take care of the different denominations of the people irrespective of caste/Creed or Religion, giving equal rights to each citizen of India. It had a vision to be secular in its administration both at centre and in the states. The united efforts of all the parties could form the Government for a period of five years at a stretch and thereafter for the next term by electing representatives to the state legislature and to the Parliament.

But of late, there have been drastic changes in the pattern of forming the Government both at the centre and at the state level due to formation of several parties with different policies and concepts. Very often the functioning of the Government was at stake due to dissimilar opinions and policies of each component of the government machinery resulting in undue delay causing monetary loss and time over run.  The progresses of the targeted developmental projects were stalling for want of timely decision. Such indecisions were mainly due to non compatibility of the thoughts and actions of the Ministers and the Administrative officers of the IAS/IPS cadre.

The causes for such unhappy situations are only due to the ideological and technical differences in sorting out the problems confronting the State or Centre. Very often such difference of opinion in the Administration reflects in the Parliament and assembly sessions resulting in continuous adjournment of the state assembly & Parliament. Even unpleasant scenes of wild and crude behavior on the part of the elected representatives are seen on the Screen (TV).

The only remedy to bring our representatives to behave in a soberly manner is to introduce certain important features in the qualities of the politicians who are to be elected to the Apex body –Parliament and to the State legislature. Well educated and sufficiently qualified people only to be permitted to stand as a candidate for the election. Once the minimum educational standard and knowledgeable level is matching with that of the IAS/IPS officers, naturally there will be mutual respect and tolerance in the matter of discussion and finding a solution to the problems at the State level or at the Centre.  Allotment of the portfolio of ministry also to be done in line with the qualification of the person concerned.

Appointment of persons in any department or private enterprises has a definite procedure for selection. Similar procedure if adopted in electing peoples’ representatives to the Government, we will save our Democracy from a probable disaster..  

Abraham Mangalath Philip