The maturing of Indian democracy with the slow but sure strengthening of representative institutions, the separation of powers, and increased participation in elections is a triumph for the people. But there are questions about the depth of our democratic consciousness.
1. How much say do Indian citizens have in influencing important legislations that have a strong bearing on their lives?
2. Is it merely enough for citizens to elect and thrust responsibility upon parliamentary representatives to make choices for them?
3. Can there be other devices to supplement the functioning of Indian democracy to make it more accountable, participatory and deliberative?
In the current context, one is compelled to think of the system of referendum (plebiscite) in practice in a few countries. Referendums are instruments of direct democracy where citizens get to directly vote on specific and important issues rather than their representatives making a choice on their behalf on those issues. Referendum is a pre-legislation process. Instances of two recent famous references are Britain's Brexit referendum and the Colombian government's FARC referendum.
If there are provisions in Indian democratic system, which enable public voting on certain legislations before they are enacted, it could go a long way in not just sensitising the public towards important laws but also as a means of getting popular approval for them, apart from avoiding any post legislation aftermath as is being witnessed now.
1. How much say do Indian citizens have in influencing important legislations that have a strong bearing on their lives?
2. Is it merely enough for citizens to elect and thrust responsibility upon parliamentary representatives to make choices for them?
3. Can there be other devices to supplement the functioning of Indian democracy to make it more accountable, participatory and deliberative?
In the current context, one is compelled to think of the system of referendum (plebiscite) in practice in a few countries. Referendums are instruments of direct democracy where citizens get to directly vote on specific and important issues rather than their representatives making a choice on their behalf on those issues. Referendum is a pre-legislation process. Instances of two recent famous references are Britain's Brexit referendum and the Colombian government's FARC referendum.
If there are provisions in Indian democratic system, which enable public voting on certain legislations before they are enacted, it could go a long way in not just sensitising the public towards important laws but also as a means of getting popular approval for them, apart from avoiding any post legislation aftermath as is being witnessed now.
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