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Liberal Position Paper - 13 Active Citizenship

Part I : Critique With the degeneration in the functioning of the Legislatures, the Executive and the Administration, the collapse of the economy and an unstable government at the Centre, there is a feeling of despondency among the citizenry leading to cynicism. We have a democratic Constitution with an institutional infrastructure; yet the benefits and goals of democracy are eluding us. In the representative democracy we have chosen, there is neither representation of the citizens' will nor an effective democratic processes in evidence. This is due to the failure on the part of the citizen to hold the elected representatives accountable to them during their tenure. Citizenship, according to Harold Laski is the contribution of one's instructed judgement to the public good. There is total reluctance on the part of the citizen to consider public issues as matters of personal concern. In recent years, organised extortion particularly in metropolitan areas is becoming quite common. The Mafia - signifying a collapse of the value system - is training an increasing number of school dropouts. In fact, even universities have become hotbeds of corruption and nepotism. Citizens behave as subjects and subordinates not as citizens. There was idealism among the leaders of the past as they came out of the freedom struggle. Electoral politics, on the other hand, seems to demand politicians who are devoid of values. Participatory democracy is not a part of the ethos of our country. How do we inculcate this consciousness in our people - that democracy is a continuous process and not confined to voting during election-time. The safety and reality of a democracy depends on the training of the average citizen to feel a moral responsibility for the results of the political process. On the other hand, there is increasing and ample evidence that performance is not necessarily related to success in elections. How else do you explain the election of Phoolan Devi, for example? Hence, amidst the gloom there is hope as the initiative to save the situation lies with the citizens. Innovation in a democracy is possible as democracy is flexible and open to changes and correction. Part II : The Liberal Position The following method is one way of energising democracy within an electoral constituency: Within any electoral constituency (municipal corporation/

Contents Liberalism Minoo Masani Liberal Principles Karl R. Popper Liberalism and Democracy Karl-Herrmann Flach The Liberal Agenda for the 21st Century A Liberal International The Rule of Law C. Rajgopalachari The Evolution of the Liberal Idea Otto Von Lambsdorff Liberalism in India D. V. Gundappa Basic Liberal Values and their Relevance to India in the Current Context An ILG document The Social Market Economy An ILG document The Requirements of Social Justice An ILG document Freedom of Expression and the Right to Know An ILG document Technology and Human Development An ILG document Active Citizenship An ILG document Liberal Priorities for India in the 21st Century A P.E.E/FNSt document The Essence of Democracy Not Majority Rule Minoo Masani

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municipality ward, state assembly or parliamentary constituency) a citizens' action group be formed. Such a group should comprise, ideally, a cross section of citizens who would identify the common problems faced by them - garbage clearance, an effective bus service, pollution control, clean drinking water, a post office facility, crematorium, adult literacy and chanelising the energies of the unemployed, ensuring the security of those living in the constituency from extortionists, etc. These citizens, groups should express their determination to vote only for candidates who will meet them at regular intervals and who will take up these issues and report on the progress. The Group can also issue a declaration on behalf of the citizens that they would vote, not for a person with a criminal record and disreputable friends but for an honest and hardworking public-spirited candidate. Such a declaration would form part of a People's Manifesto that will be popularised in the constituency before any impending election. Once the candidates are declared they would be invited on a common platform to address the citizens group requesting the candidate to explain how they plan to serve the voters in the constituency. At the same meeting, the candidates will be requested to make a commitment that the elected candidates (municipal, assembly and parliament) would meet the citizens at specified intervals. It is very unlikely that any party candidate will say no to such a course of action. If the group is visible and present themselves at the appointed time, no representative will fail to turn up, as his or her political future, perhaps to power, could well be determined by his voters. Well informed and armed with the economic resources at their command, the citizens can ensure that they are able to extract work from their elected representatives. This will also create a sense of responsibility among the citizens to expend their energies in making things work well in their constituency. The cable network, voluntary organisations, Lions, Rotarians, senior citizens, youth, housewives, professionals can all be roped into action. As a consequence, a sense of belonging and identification of the constituency as their home would develop. It would also bring about true integration cutting across boundaries of caste, religion, language, class, etc. Many novel ideas would emerge such as an emergency fund available to the citizens in times of need; from a first aid clinic to a full fledged hospital, adult literacy and family planning programmes - all on a voluntary basis. To get their major problems solved through their representative, there will be no need to raise money - all that is needed is for the citizen to have a genuine desire to be socially and politically responsible and spare a little time to watch democracy work right in front of his eyes. Let's remember that an MP's constituency has a battalion of

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representatives - 4 to 5 members in the state assembly, 10 to 12 municipal corporators. These are all there supposedly to make democracy work and it is for the citizens to see that they work. There will be no need to have a constitutional amendment to prescribe that criminals and lumpen elements will not be eligible to hold public office. Alert citizens' action groups can ensure that such elements do not get in. Self-regulation and not legal regulation will be the deterrent. If this is successful in one constituency, the media newspapers, TV, internet and other channels can be used to publicize the success story. If it works in one constituency it will work in the remaining 544 parliamentary constituencies in the country. Active citizenship is, therefore, crucial to the development and preservation of civil society. Holding the elected representative accountable and being pro-active in the task of good governance is only an aspect, albeit important part, of being a good citizen. In India, despite the economic reforms, state-owned institutions continue to affect our lives in one way or another. There is need to be aware of the norms that govern these institutions. Our rights as bank depositors, or consumers of electricity or telephone subscribers, for instance. The numerous public interest petitions filed by individuals seeking redressal of grievances that affect the community are to be welcomed. At the same time, the need to seek the court's assistance in setting right a wrong, could be reduced if citizens organised themselves and insisted that rules made to safeguard their rights are implemented. Active citizenship implies therefore that democracy is not merely voting once in five years and complaining in between. Active citizenship implies taking an active part in the life of the community and in the affairs of the nation. This makes for a healthy civil society. [Based on a discussion and general acceptance of Part II of this Paper by a National Workshop on Liberalism held in Mangalore from March 26 to 28, 1999] Top

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