We have a direct democratic system where every citizen votes
to elect their representatives to the Parliament. Here's a novel proposal -
Let's have the local self-government institutions play a role in electing the MLA’s
& MP's. Let the Sarpanches (who are elected directly by the citizens) be
the ones who
vote in the State level and National level elections for MLA's and
MP's.
This way, the Panchayat institutions will be brought into
focus and out of disregard. This will in turn pave the way for strengthening
these decentralized governance institutions the rationale when the power to elect to MLA's MP's is given
to them, there will be much more scrutiny of their functioning and efficiency.
And since they are now vested with this magnitude of
political power, as a complementary step to it, they can also be now trusted
with additional economic resources (as with greater focus on them come more
questions their accountability). And so solve the problem of resources with the
Panchayats (one stone, two birds. Or fruits rather).
The point here is to achieve better governance (this is what i'm looking for). Which is enabled through decentralization (this is an assumption i am making). Which is ensured by making the
Panchayat systems functional & efficient (this is a fact. hopefully). This functionality & efficiency is ensured by greater
accountability (this is my claim). Which is asked for when there is greater importance attached to
the Panchayat institutions. Which is done by making them the ones who elect the
State level (and unlikely but maybe even National level) representatives (this is the logic of my proposal).
The popular adage says – with great authority comes great
responsibility. In a nutshell, what is proposed above hinges on the inversion of the adage: With
great responsibility (of electing representatives) comes great authority (which
is what decentralization wants).
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