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Squeezing civil society hurts India’s economy and democracy
https://www.opendemocracy.net/openindia/mandeep-s-tiwana/squeezing-civil-society-hurts-india-s-economy-and-democracy
Squeezing civil society hurts India’s economy and democracy
MANDEEP S. TIWANA 23 August 2017
India played a key moral role in international affairs during the anti-colonial struggles and as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement during the cold war. What happened then?
Grand laser show at Gateway of India about the journey of India's 70 year of independence, August 15, 2017 in Mumbai.Hindustan Times/SIPA USA/Press Association.This August, India celebrates 70 years of the culmination of its freedom struggle which inspired the world. Powered by individuals from all walks of life and led by social activists who cut across religious and ethnic divides, the country’s freedom struggle was the greatest civil society movement of its time, and led by the world’s pre-eminent civil society activist, Mahatma Gandhi. The struggle’s purpose was not only to win independence but to create a just and equal society where the human rights of everyone including the historically disadvantaged would be respected.
Through their successful struggle, India’s freedom activists paved the way for replacing colonial structures with constitutional democracy in much of the post-colonial global south. They faced regular persecution for acts of peaceful protest. Their writings demanding civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights were often deemed to be ‘seditious’ and against ‘public order’.
Today, India might be an electoral democracy with human rights enshrined in its constitution. Following tradition, Prime Minister Modi paid a floral tribute at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial and referenced the sacrifices of the men and women who fought for the country’s freedom in his independence day speech.
Despite this, the spiritual descendants of India’s freedom fighters working in thousands of civil society organisations (CSOs) across the country are facing a slew of well documented obstacles. Routine online trolling, unjustified vilification based on rumour and various forms of arbitrary administrative harassment as some of the everyday challenges faced by those engaged in the defence of constitutional values.
Self-sacrifice and obstruction
Contrary to popular belief, those familiar with the working of CSOs know well that the overwhelming majority of organisations and activists operate on relatively meagre budgets drawing on Gandhian traditions of self-sacrifice. Global Witness has recently reported a spike in the murders of land and environmental activists in the country. Government officials who have a responsibility to protect rights have been implicated in several attacks on activists and in curtailing protests by communities facing usurpation of their land by mining companies.
While economic growth, security and corruption free governance may define the narrative of the ruling political class, the state of India’s democracy including intolerance of alternate views remains on the mind of several international interlocutors. Notably, the World Economic Forum has identified fraying rule of law and declining civic freedoms as a major global risk for 2017. Attacks on the independent media and civil society have already damaged the country’s reputation as a stable investment destination.Attacks on the independent media and civil society have already damaged the country’s reputation as a stable investment destination.
The Economist Intelligence Unit which provides key analysis to business leaders rates the world’s largest democracy as ‘flawed’ in its 2016 Democracy Index. Never mind that India is a member of the governing council of the Community of Democracies, an intergovernmental body that supports civil society and democratic values around the world. The 2017 Press Freedom Index ranks India at an abysmal 136 out of 180 jurisdictions covered. The CIVICUS Monitor, which measures protection of civic freedoms categorises India’s civic space as ‘obstructed’.
Democratic dissent
India’s leaders need to be cognisant of the fact that by attacking civil society they are undermining a key source of the country’s influence in international circles. Selective use of international funding restrictions to hobble thousands of diverse and vibrant civil society organisations (CSOs) – through the emergency-era-inspired Foreign Contributions Regulation Act – is tantamount to an own goal by the government which is keen to project a positive image to foreign investors.Robust debate and space for democratic dissent should be welcomed in the larger public interest. They make a country stronger not weaker in the long run.
At a time when barriers are being lowered to enable foreign private entities to bring in and take out huge amounts of capital from the country, use of the FCRA to target a substantial section of CSOs receiving relatively insignificant amounts is jarring, considering that like private companies, CSOs must also adhere to criminal, anti-terror and money-laundering legislation. Moreover, CSOs act as a bulwark against corruption and poor governance. They champion social cohesion and the rule of law, recognised by governments, the private sector and the international community as the building blocks of sustainable economic development.
To fully realise the country’s national development vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (collective effort and inclusive growth) civil society should be able to offer deep critiques of public policy without fear of reprisals. Contestations on political and economic matters are inevitable in any democracy. Robust debate and space for democratic dissent should be welcomed in the larger public interest. They make a country stronger not weaker in the long run. Prime Minister Modi’s speech referenced the values of peace, unity and compassion which are integral to civil society.
Key moral role
Notably, India played a key moral role in international affairs during the anti-colonial struggles and as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement during the cold war. Today, as a rising economic power and as a member of BRICS alliance, the country needs to draw on its history in being a promoter of democratic values at home and abroad. Active citizens and civil society can help the nation in reclaiming that legacy.
When India was going through its Universal Periodic Review on human rights at the UN this May, the country’s Attorney General spoke about Indian traditions of openness and diversity, coexistence and cooperation, and about tolerance and mutual understanding being ingrained in the country’s polity. Having heard this near-Utopian description, a well-respected civil society activist quipped, ‘I now want to live in that country he was describing.’
About the author
Mandeep S. Tiwana is chief programmes officer at the global civil society alliance, CIVICUS. Prior to joining CIVICUS, he worked on a range of human rights and social justice initiatives in India.
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