As concerned citizens of this country, many of us solely agree to the point that any form of violence, be it by the Maoists or by any other, is not good for the health of this nation and therefore should not be permitted. However, this raises another question – what is permitted in a democracy?

 

Democracy is a form of governance. Ours is a representative system of democracy, where crores of common people, elect there representatives to govern on behalf of them. These representatives, however, seem to forget that they are drafted as spokespersons for the people, as soon as they enter the house of power. While certain groups and lobbies are elevated and their issues are given primary importance, the minority groups like Dalits or tribals are ignored.

 

After sixty three years of independence, in the villages of Kalahandi, people are struggling to get a fist full of rice to survive. In Bihar, a report submitted to the Supreme Court commissioners on right to food by the state advisor of Bihar states that, at least hundred people died out of hunger in the past three years. Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand, have had similar crisis too, with people struggling and succumbing to hunger and starvation. Article 21 of the constitution guarantees living, again with dignity which needs to be protected by the elected managers of democracy. But, there have been negligible efforts from the politicians to do this. Is this permitted in a democracy?

 

The constitution also gives us the right against exploitation, with this right enshrined under Article 23 and 24 of the Indian constitution. These articles abolish the trafficking of human beings and forced labour, including the abolition of employment of children below the age of 14 years. But, even though child labour is abolished, the law has not been effectively implemented.

 

In local trains, these children still sweep compartments; make food, serve it and clean up on roadside dhabas. Moreover, children and women are still routinely trafficked from India's interior villages, to various states and even, across borders. The reality of India can expressed simply, with the following fact: There are 1, 26, 66,377 number of working children (as per the 2001 census) within the age group of 5 to 14. Is this permitted in a democratic country like India?

 

There are many such discrepancies in the nation – practices, which are banned under the constitution, yet thrive openly. The common man possesses many rights, as per the constitution, yet these seem to not exist for tribals, women, children and Dalits of this democracy.

 

Our leaders often talk about how a rise in the quality of education in the country would lead to a miraculous transformation. However, such a opinion seems naïve, considering how a large majority of schools across the nation, lack teachers and have abysmal infrastructure. Is this permitted in a democracy?

 

Employment is another sore point. With the onset of the Rural employment guarantee act, it was assumed that the huge number of unskilled labourers would receive jobs, but, corruption ensured that, in many places, the scheme just became an income option for officials. There have been many such schemes which have disappeared without a trace. What is happening with the Indira Awas Yojana? Who shall receive BPL cards? Who gets rice under the Public Distribution System? Are all of them the real beneficiaries?

 

There are many questions that the politicians need to answer. Merely chalking a list of do's and don'ts do not make a democracy, a functional successful one. Instead concrete action ought to be carried out, if this country hopes of surviving as a democratic nation.