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Chapter 10 Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
Introduction
Human societies require order and harmony, especially when large numbers of people live together. Disagreements and potential disorder necessitate the establishment of rules.
Rules are present in various aspects of life: at home, in school, during examinations, for road traffic, and in workplaces for both employees and employers.
Without rules, society would struggle to function effectively.
The process of making decisions, organizing society's functioning through rules, and ensuring these rules are followed is called governance. The group of individuals or the system responsible for creating and enforcing rules is known as the government. Some of the most important rules are called laws.
Rules and laws are not static; they can be changed or updated. Just as individuals or groups within smaller settings can propose changes to rules, citizens in a society have mechanisms to influence the laws that govern them.
Governments are involved in numerous aspects of public life, such as transportation, education, healthcare, defense, public services, etc. These activities highlight the essential role of government in facilitating societal functioning and providing services.
Three Organs Of Government
Modern governments typically function through three distinct branches or organs. These organs work together to create, implement, and interpret the laws of the land, ensuring a system of checks and balances.
Consider the example of cybercrime and the government's response. The emergence of digital crime necessitates new laws and enforcement mechanisms.
The three organs are:
- The Legislature: This is the law-making body. It is responsible for formulating new laws, amending existing ones, and repealing outdated laws. In a representative system, this body is typically composed of elected representatives of the people.
- The Executive: This organ is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws passed by the legislature. It includes the head of state (like a President or Governor), the head of government (like a Prime Minister or Chief Minister), ministers, and various government agencies (such as the police or specific enforcement bodies). In the cybercrime example, the cyber police are part of the executive, tasked with enforcing laws against cybercriminals.
- The Judiciary: This is the system of courts responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice. It decides whether laws have been broken, determines appropriate actions or punishments (like fines or imprisonment), and can also review the legality of executive decisions or legislative laws to ensure fairness and constitutionality. In the cybercrime example, the courts (part of the judiciary) would decide if a person accused of cybercrime is guilty and what their sentence should be.
In a well-functioning system of governance, these three organs are kept separate, although they interact. This principle is known as the 'separation of powers'. Its purpose is to prevent any single organ from becoming too powerful and to ensure a system of checks and balances, where each branch can scrutinize and limit the actions of the others, maintaining balance and accountability.
Three Levels Of Government
Governments typically operate at multiple levels to manage the affairs of a country effectively. In India, the system of governance is organized into three distinct levels or tiers:
- Local Government: This is the tier of government closest to the people, operating at the village or town level. It deals with local issues and administration.
- State Government: This level of government operates at the state or regional level, governing within the boundaries of a specific state.
- Central or Union Government: This is the national level of government, responsible for the governance of the entire country.
Different levels of government are responsible for different matters, although there can be overlap and coordination, particularly during major events or crises. For example, in the case of a flood, the local government might manage immediate relief, the State Government would coordinate larger rescue efforts, and the Central Government might provide extensive aid and national support.
India's institutions often draw inspiration from ancient texts. The motto of the Government of India is Satyameva Jayate ("Truth alone triumphs"), taken from the Mundaka Upanishad. The motto of the Supreme Court of India is Yato Dharmastato Jayah ("Where there is dharma, there is victory"), from the Mahabharata.
The table below summarizes the general framework of the three organs' functions at the national and state levels in India. The term nominal head refers to a position that is the head in name or title only, with the actual executive power held by someone else (e.g., President of India and Governors are nominal heads; Prime Minister and Chief Ministers are the executive heads). A House refers to an assembly where laws are discussed and passed.
| National Level | State Level | |
| Judiciary | Supreme Court of India | High Court (for each state or group of states) |
| Legislature | Parliament (Two Houses: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) - Formulates national laws | State Legislature (Typically one State Assembly/Vidhan Sabha; some states have two houses) - Formulates state laws |
| Executive | Union Government: Led by the President of India (Nominal Head) and Prime Minister (Executive Head). |
State Government: Led by the Governor (Nominal Head) and Chief Minister (Executive Head). |
| Functions & Responsibilities (Examples) |
Defence, Foreign Affairs, Atomic Energy, Communications, Currency, Interstate Commerce, National Education Policy, etc. | Police, Law and Order, Public Health, Education (State specific), Agriculture, Irrigation, Local Government oversight, Adaptation & implementation of national laws at state level. |
The Local Government tier will be explored in detail in subsequent chapters.
Example 1. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Born in a humble family in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, in 1931, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was a renowned scientist, nicknamed the ‘Missile Man of India’ for his crucial role in the development of India’s space programme, missile programme and nuclear capabilities.
Dr. Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. Despite his high status, he remained deeply connected to the people, and the youth in particular, through his passion for good education and innovation. He inspired millions with his humility, dedication to social causes and commitment to the nation. He tirelessly encouraged young Indians to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.
Dr. Kalam showed that even though his position as the President of India was nominal, he could play an important role, impacting countless lives.
Let us meditate on a few of his inspiring thoughts:
“Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.”
“To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.”
“If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L. means ‘First Attempt In Learning’. End is not the end, in fact E.N.D. means ‘Effort Never Dies’. If you get ‘no’ as an answer, remember N.O. means ‘Next Opportunity’. So let’s be positive.”
“Dream is not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep.”
“If four things are followed — having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance — then anything can be achieved.”
Answer:
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's life and presidency illustrate that while the President of India is the nominal head of the executive, the individual holding the office can still have a profound and significant impact on the nation and its people. His influence stemmed from his personal qualities, achievements as a scientist, dedication to education, and ability to connect with and inspire citizens, particularly the youth, rather than solely from the formal executive powers of the presidency.
His dedication to social causes and his emphasis on dreaming big, hard work, and perseverance served as powerful examples. This shows that influence and impact in governance and society are not limited to formal roles but can also come from leadership through inspiration, personal integrity, and dedication to public good, even within a constitutionally defined nominal position.
Democracy
Democracy is a system of governance adopted by many countries globally, fundamentally meaning 'rule of the people'. The word originates from Greek: 'dēmos' (people) and 'kratos' (rule/power).
Since it's not practical for all citizens to directly participate in making every decision, democracies often function through representatives of the people. Citizens elect representatives who then participate in assemblies (like State Assemblies or Parliament) to make laws and decisions on their behalf.
- At the State level, elected representatives are typically called Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
- At the national level, they are called Members of Parliament (MPs).
India is the world's largest representative democracy. Citizens aged 18 and above have the right to vote in elections to choose their representatives.
Within democratic assemblies, representatives engage in dialogue and debate to discuss laws, societal problems, and potential solutions, aiming to reach decisions based on collective deliberation.
In contrast to representative democracy, direct democracy involves citizens participating directly in decision-making, such as through voting on specific issues, like a class voting to choose a picnic spot.
The term grassroots democracy refers to a system designed to empower and encourage the active participation of ordinary citizens at the lowest levels of governance. This ensures that people have a say in decisions that directly affect their lives, forming the base of the democratic structure.
Further features of India's democratic system, particularly at the local level, will be explored in subsequent chapters.