The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dhiraj Kumar Nath

Democracy is considered as the most advanced and enlightened form of government. Real democracy depends on an educated electorate", said Thomas Jefferson, one of the United States' first Presidents. In his view, "democracy also depends on certain level of true civilisation, that is, people who are civil and can respect the rights and needs of other people."

Democracy, the best form of Government: Democracy is considered as the best form of government representing people's power since it signifies a form of government in which people hold power under a free electoral system. There are, in fact, two major ingredients very much distinct in democracy, such as,

a) all members of the society have equal access to power,

b) all members enjoy universally recognised freedoms and liberties.

Besides, democracy in its true sense can guarantee freedom of political expression, freedom of speech and freedom of press. These are, in fact, issues most demanded for a civilised society to ensure fundamental rights of people.

Democracy also means that there should be periodic (or regular) and genuine elections and that power can and should change hands through popular suffrage and not coercion and force.

In democracy, political opponents and minorities have a right to express their views and have influence in the policy-making process. More precisely, in democracy, there is scope for respect and protection for basic civil and political rights.

Democracy with people's participation: The local community participation is the corner-stone of modem notions of citizenship because its institution and decision -making procedures may allow for a more direct form of democracy in which voices of ordinary individuals can be heard most easily. It involves meaningful dialogue, debate and discussion of all people in an effort to solve problems that arise in the community. Grassroots level democracy facilitates "political education". More informed and educated citizens make democratic decision- making by the people possible and more effective.

John Stuart Mill and other advocates of parliamentary democracy at the local level argued that unlocking the virtue and intelligence of the populace would foster good governance and promote social welfare. This is possible only with the participation of the community and unconditional support of the people living at the grassroots level.

Virtues of democracy: Views of Bangladeshis: Bangladeshi people, by and large, without reservations have confidence in democracy, since in a democratic system the government represent the will of the people which, in other words, is known as the rule of majority. The establishment of the democratic system was the spirit of our freedom movement and genesis of the war of liberation of Bangladesh. At the same time, people do not like to see the tyranny of majority or the brute majority in power dominating the normal discipline and distorting the canons of justice.

Bangladeshis believe that the supreme power should be vested with the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free and fair election in an atmosphere of equal opportunity to all. This is, in turn, called level playing field demanded by all political parties and public at large.

The most important ingredient of the public view in Bangladesh is that democracy, in true sense, should be devoid of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions, priorities and privileges.

Essence of grassroots democracy: "Develop grassroots democracy and ensure that the people enjoy democratic rights in a more extensive and practical way. The most effective and extensive way for the people to be master of the country is that they exercise their democratic rights in accordance with the law to manage public affairs and public service programmes at the primary level". This was the observation of President Hu Jintao in his address on the 17th China Party Congress.

Grassroots democracy is a tendency towards designing political processes whereas much decision-making authority is shifted to the lowest geographic level of organisation.

Nowadays, comprehension and integration of democratic politics in the local administration are considered as best ways of reforms and appropriate strategies for the implementation of the democracy at the grassroots level. The values of transparency and openness in decision - making, steady political participation, public evaluation of local level leaders and democratic direct elections became important to these reforms.

Grassroots democracy and empowerment of people: Central to any meaning of grassroots level democratic governance is the concept of selfgovernment and administration closset to the people. The essential notion is that inhabitants of a given area have the right and responsibility to make decisions on those issues that affect them most directly and on which they can make decisions.

With the strengthening of democracy at the grassroots level, values of democracy are established among the people living in rural areas, especially in villages. The practice of democracy helps to understand the rights and privileges of the rural people.

According to Mahatma Gandhi," India lives in villages and unless village life can be revitalised the nation as a whole can hardly come alive." This was the spirit, which prompted India to form Panchayati Raj system in India. The Panchayati Raj system is now operating in India on the basis of few basic principles to empower the local level institutions, such as:

a) People's participation in the administration.

b) Capacity building of the population.

c) De-bureaucratisation of the system,

d ) Decentralisation of the powers.

Policy framework in Bangladesh:

The Constitution of Bangladesh in its state principles at Article 9 specifically mentioned about the importance of government at the grassroots level. This has been more explicitly spelled out at Articles 59 and 60 of the Constitution emphasising on the Local Government administration.

Very recently, the Bangladesh Election Commission in the Representation of People's Order, 2008 as amended, in its clause 90(B) has made a mandatory provision to get nomination from the grassroots. It provides that political parties shall nominate their candidates for the upcoming 9th Parliament election on the basis of the recommendation of the party committees representing at the grassroots level. The vision is to empower the grassroots level leaders to act as major icons at the national politics and also decisionmaking processes.

Historical Perspectives: In fact, historically in the geographical territory of Bangladesh, local government has been respected and honoured as the basis of vibrant democratic system. During thirteen century, village leaders used to recover the taxes through panchayet system. The major objective of the panchayet system was to ensure the good governance by imposing discipline in the society, encouraging education and celebration of religious festivals. Mughal emperor encouraged establishing cities and appointing Kotwals as the chief executive of cities after dividing the same into mahalas. During British regime, there was experiment of local government including Permanent Settlement or Zamindari system by Lord Cornwallis. The Chowkidari Act of 1870 added a new dimension to the local government system.

The Local Self-Government Act was enacted in 1885 through which the local government system achieved its legal status to conduct business as government. The Union Board was established in 1919 and for the first time British gave attention to rural areas besides revenue collections.

During Pakistan regime, four tiers local government system as basic democracy at the Union Council, Thana Council, District Council and Divisional Council were introduced. A major break-through to decentralise the local government was achieved with the introduction of Thana Parishad and Thana Administrative Reorganisation Ordinance on 23rd December 1982. This was however, annulled in 1991.

The present non-party caretaker government has however, revised the system and abolished the concept of gram sarker. The Upazila system is now a reality and the election of Upazila shall now be held in mid January 2009.

Looking Forward: Managing the impact of globalisation and urbanisation, promoting effective service delivery, fostering social peace and creating opportunities for employment are among the main challenges facing democracy at the grassroots.

Keeping this in view, it is necessary to develop local leadership and institutional capability to establish rule of law through good governance.

The significant decentralisation will generate leadership at the grassroots level and ensure participation of the people in the management of the state affairs and also expedite the development processes.

The country is now at the critical stage of reformation with the mission to strengthen the Local Government institutions in a real democratic atmosphere. The government has also set up a Local Government Commission to suggest the possible ways and means to build up self-sustaining units at the grassroots level. The nation is eagerly waiting to see strong and vibrant democratic local institutions operating independently in the country.

(The writer is former Adviser, Non-Party Caretaker Governmen-2006.)