Democracy and importance of people's participation

Economics and politics have always been an important part of human deliberations irrespective of their dimensions, directions and designs. In a democratic set up, economic and political discourse should be vibrant and embracing, and certainly not embarrassing. Dissent, debate and dialogue must have a great place in a country like ours which pledges to promote equality, justice, fraternity and liberty with the spirit of 'We the People of India.' It has a great soothing impact on the countrymen, born in different castes, religions and regions but woven together in the garland of amity, peace and brotherhood, striving collectively to make India a heaven on the earth where caste, religion and affluence based exclusion and discrimination have no place.

It is, however, unfortunate that even after 75 years of Independence, the spread of quality education, inter-caste and inter-religion marriages and dining remains uneven. Social parochialism is still in existence in one form or the other. Disdain for the have-nots of society has not yet been fully eliminated from among us, hype apart. It is amply reflected during our onscreen and off-screen debates and discussions on socio-political and economic issues. There is also a strong tendency among us to speak either the half truths or as per our convenience. Stating facts and realities in a wholesome manner is still considered to be an act of pariah.

In our country economic debate is not minimal but quite exclusive. It is, to put in other words, is out and out elitist, certainly not of a high end quality. Economy and economics go beyond discussing initial public offers (IPOs), capital markets, fuel prices, disinvestment, incentives for industries, tax collection and so on. Balanced appraisal of economic policies with their impact on welfare and affirmative measures and policies of the governments rarely become a part of serious economic deliberations involving top experts. They don't feel like to be in the role of a friend, guide, philosopher and critic for the masses but love to be experts, who are cheered and patted by a miniscule percentage of people.

There are schemes and programmes aimed at economic empowerment of the masses. Some of them are Stand Up India, Startup India, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) for self-help groups, PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises) scheme, Post-Matric Scholarships for poor OBC, ST, SC and Minority community students, and fellowships for them to study abroad. There is hardly any structured debate by influencers and public policy experts on the impact of these schemes on the target groups, gaps if any in their implementation and their possible remedies. There is little or no time for the conscience keepers to enlighten masses about education loans provided by banks – with collateral or without collateral. It is indeed a painful situation.

Similarly, during election time India is abuzz with high voltage discussions but the way our experts dissect political and electoral issues in terms of high and low castes is so agonizing. They do so with a great sense of confidence and superiority complex. It is done despite the fact that the concept of high and low caste is a dangerous cocktail, which has already done an irreparable damage to the nation. In view of affirmative measures and programmes, we have certain legalized classifications of people. For example, socially and educationally backwards among us are OBCs; we have scheduled castes and tribes; we have creamy layer people; we have minority community people of different religions; we have economically weaker sections (EWS) people; we have the creamy layer people, and we also have the general category people.

We don't have high or low caste people. None of us is the first among equals but one among them. Unfortunately, the rich and powerful among us love to relish high-low caste permutations and combinations, knowing well that they are only making dangerous contributions to further widen social chasms. If we use the term dominant castes in place of high castes and suppressed people in place of low castes, we will be conveying a more inclusive message. It is divisive to propagate high-low caste interpretations as we are already too late in breaking the bias.

What are the way-outs to deal with the menace? In terms of economics, we have not been very aggressive in our approach to eliminate disparities in income and opportunity. A miniscule percentage of people are being allowed to act as saviours of the masses though they are not in reality. They use the masses and their trust as a means to enrich themselves. They rarely get vocal to accelerate the pace of empowering 80 per cent people of the country, mostly Dalits, OBCs and minorities, who have been left out. They rarely vouch for higher interest rates on the deposits of low income group people in their savings accounts. They will never be overheard talking about 'one nation, one education and one fee' policy on the right platform. They don't like the idea of letting people be a part of decisions being taken about them.

At a time when India dreams to be a $ 5 trillion economy by 2030, we must not pretend to be oblivious of the chronic plight of poor people. We must walk the talk. Our political discourse must not be divorced from macro economic realities. Political experts are rarely seen dissecting if the benefits of liberalization, privatisation and globalization are percolating to the country's vast poor masses or not. Being a complainant in political discourse against businessmen and the party in power is one thing but articulating the issues in a wholesome manner is entirely a different ballgame.

The silence of rich and powerful political people irrespective of their caste and religions on acts of discrimination, exclusion and injustice falls in the category of irresponsibility as India is entering the Amrit Kaal of Independence after the conclusion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, that is, the year-long celebration of 75 years of Independence. It is high for all to decide if the masses will continue to be the masters of their own fate but without having any say in what makes or mars one's fate. There is no harm in taking a pause and pondering over what continues to ail us as a nation and society. It is fraught with repercussions if we continue to be in a comfort zone and oblivious of the colossal deficit of inclusive quotient in our economic and political discourse!

(The writer is a senior journalist and author. The views are strictly personal)