User:Jagdish~enwikiversity

 Reforms required in the Indian Democracy 

General elections 2009 have proved that the Voter turnout has dwindled. The reasons stated may be long enough, however taking in to consideration the fact that huge expenditure has been incurred to create awareness amongst the voters, the turnout is dismal. Earlier the candidates used to arrange vehicles for transporting the voters to the booth and back. The candidates used to do so in their own interest. However the firm approach taken by the Election Commission in implementation of the model code of conduct has proved that the earlier instances of higher voter turn out were far from genuine. however still the robustness of Indian Democracy has survived many a onslaught of useless politicians. The neighbouring state has exhibited the classic case of failure due to lack of preparedness to accept idea of democracy. Now in order to further strengthen the Indian Democracy, it is felt that certain initiatives need to be taken :

Ban the entry of illiterates : no person who is illiterate and cannot read and write independently should be allowed to contest elections. Minimum requirement should be Higher Secondary education.

Verification of Character and Antecedents : All those contest election should be subjected to verification of Character and Antecedents. Even today candidates are submitting false declarations and are not questionned for the same. An agency should be formed for verification of the claim of the candidates. The candidates should be made to put out the details in public instead of keeping it in safe custody of Election Commission.

Candidates should be brought under the RTI Act 2005 : At present only the civil servants are subjected to RTI Act 2005 and the candidates are left out. In order to bring in 'transparency and accountability' the candidates should be brought under the Right to Information Act 2005.

Balance sheet of constituency or the M.P./M.L.A. should be made public: the income and expenditure of every M.P./M.L.A.should be made public. They should be made to submit details of Income and Expenditure tot he general public. Similarly the Balance Sheet of the constituency should be declared to give idea about the investment done, work done.

Right to Call Back: The general public/ voter should not be made to suffer full term for the inefficiency of the elected representative. The Public should be made Master in true sense of the Public Servant. It should be possible to cal;l back an Elected Representative through representation of atleast 50% voters in the area.

Voting to be made compulsory: The national database of the voters should be updated after every election and entries be made about those who failed to caste their vote. Various benefits should be linked to Voting and hence those who fail to caste vote should be deprived of certain privileges like filing petitions and complaints etc.

Right to caste Negative vote : the public should be given right to reject all the candidates. Candidates failing to secure minimum 40% vote of total voters should be declared unsuccessful and in case more than one candidate securing more than 40% votes, the candidate securing highest votes should be declared elected.

Catch them Young: Democratic values need to be inculcated at a very young age. for the purpose, it must be made mandatory to have student council in each and every school and elections conducted every year to instill the faith of democracy.

Research and development: Democratic values need to be developed through thorough research using various disciplines like sociology, psychology, management etc.

Amendments in law: Law should be amended suitably to take away draconian provisions to impose presidential rule or emergency in any state by the centre.