Democracy is
projected as 'by the people, of the people, for the people' but it’s actually buy the people, off the people and far the
people.
In current
scenario, party is supposed to collect its own fund. These funds come from big
corporates, foreign funding agencies, politicians themselves and other small
contributions. These fundings are basically investment in disguise to get
bigger returns, which comes at expense of common man’s interests. If the
businessman buys top politicians of ruling party, he can get anything in favor.
All other members of the party have to follow their leader’s command and can’t
voice their dissension.
Demerits of current system
Prout philosophy
states, "Party politics is one of the factors which stands, or tries to
stand, in the way of human unity. In fact, party politics is even more
dangerous than disease-causing germs. In party politics all the refined
attributes of the human mind, such as simplicity and the spirit of service,
slowly but surely get totally destroyed. Party affiliation commands more
respect than individual ability; service to self, not service to people, is the
main motto; ministerial office, rather than human welfare, is considered
superior; and mass deception, political somersaults, etc., are most common
phenomena."
"Instead of
rectifying themselves, politicians want to accomplish everything through their
grandiloquence. By identifying the weaknesses in others and by resorting to
bombastic language, they incite one section of people against another so that
they can usurp the seat of power and cling to it. Human beings will have to
remain vigilant against persons of this type."
Recent examples
1.
Tussle
in Maharashtra for CM post and they are projecting we want to give good
government to the people while they themselves are more interested in power and
money.
2.
Karnataka
going to have 3 deputy CMs, which is not for people's welfare but to appease
powerful vote clusters. Read here
3.
CBI
and Enforcement Directorate (ED) is used against opposition parties to get
political benefits for their own party. If someone joins their party, all cases
against them will be subdued.
4.
In
present politics, even bitter political opponents work in collusion in all
wrong doings. MPs and MLAs increase their salaries. They just malign each other
to win votes but go hand in gloves. No real action is taken for other parties’
crime until the guilty is hiding ruling party’s wrong doings.
5.
Creating
new posts like Deputy CMs and other posts to appease powerful political
clusters to save their chair at the cost of taxpayers’ money.
6.
Horse
trading. Buying other party's elected representatives is a common practice.
*Before Karnataka elections, there was cash crunch. Read here
7.
Providing
due undue benefits to the corporate houses those fund their election campaigns.
Read here
8.
Giving
natural resources license to big corporates and the local rightful people are
forced to work as laborers.
Current system of
crony capitalism need to be changed or replaced that democracy truly represent
it's basic essence of 'by the people, of the people, for the people'.
Proposed Solution
To replace the
present manipulative election system, we can follow the following steps:
1. The
party based electoral system should be abolished.
2.
A
candidate should contest as an independent candidate in election for their respective
constituency. A common program can be funded by election commission from
exchequer. These candidates should share their agenda in TV and radio shows and
all the commitments should be recorded. There will be debates and discussions
that how they will fulfill their commitments. People should ask them directly
how candidate’s programs and policies are going to improve the condition of
constituency and how those policies will be implemented. A strict mechanism
should be followed that no candidate should be able to bribe or mislead the
voters. If individuals are funding a candidate, then the elected person is
obliged to favor them at the cost of voters interest.
3.
Candidates
should not be allowed to do any other publicity and strict vigilance should be
maintained.
4.
Only
those people should be allowed to vote who understand political, social and
economic impact of policies and decisions. An electoral college should be
formed of such politico-socio-economically aware people. A test may be
conducted to check socio economic knowledge and understanding of voters and
then they should become part of Electoral College and allowed to vote. It seems
very harsh and impractical at the moment because we have grown with mindset of
universal franchise, anyone above age of 18 years is eligible for voting. Will
we ever ask a hockey player to select a cricket team if he does not know the
basics of cricket? An effort should be made to educate remaining people so that
they can also be socio-politico-economically aware and can vote in forthcoming elections. These people should be uplifted to become part of Electoral College.
Voting should be mandatory for members of Electoral College.
5.
Each
person should stand for a particular post which he is expert in and has
leadership qualities. Let’s say textile minister, then he should have decent
knowledge on production, processing and marketing of textiles. It should not be
that an elected person is allotted some ministry for which he does not know the
basics.
6.
Complete
development plan and all the projects should be visible online with estimated
budget and time bound completion.
7.
People
should have right to vote against a proposed project. If people feel, it is
wastage of money like bullet train, big statutes, then they should have right
to vote against the project. A cheaper method can be found like e-voting.
8.
There
should be quarterly assessment and all the elected persons have to answer to
the people if they have concerns on his style of functioning, delayed projects
and over expenditure etc.
9.
If
an elected person is unable to deliver his promises in stipulated timeframe,
then he should be penalized monetarily and sent to prison for making false
promises. This will help in avoiding non serious candidates and pave the way
for only serious candidates those know what is feasible and will promise
accordingly.
10.
Discussions
in parliament and legislative assemblies will be based on everyone’s input and
not by party head’s instructions where only handful of people make all the
decisions. A healthy discussion will incorporate more views and alleviate
concerns from different sectors. Country or state should not run by whims of
few self centred politicians.
11.
Recall
or Impeachment should be allowed against any elected member even before
completion of his tenure if he is found indulge in corrupt practices or not
performing his duties.
12.
Political
institutions are responsible for economic development of area as well. It
should not be just about building roads and railways. Eg- Helping in setting up
industry based on raw materials in those areas.
13.
Legislative,
Administrative, Judiciary and Public exchequer should be separate. None of
these institutions should be allowed to interfere in each other’s work.
Government appoints people who obey their dictums which jeopardizes the purpose
of these very institutions.
14.
Audit
department should be absolutely independent and should not be appointed by
government.
