Current Events
Not Much of a Democracy!
The Economist Rates India
NEWS REPORTS
Touting itself as the world’s ‘largest democracy’, India ain’t much of a democracy, according to the latest annual report released this month by the Intelligence Unit of The Economist.
Listing it way down as # 38 on the list, it labels India a “flawed” and marginal democracy, at best.
The index was first published in 2006, with later reports in 2008, 2010 and 2011. In the first index, India ranked at 35 and has since slipped 3 positions even in its overall rankings.
The index judged 167 countries according to five parameters: electoral process and pluralism; functioning of government; political participation; political culture; and civil liberties.
India has shown no improvement in all criteria, with only one exception -- in the area of political participation, which is only because of increased voter turnout by women and the so-called “lower” castes and classes.
There is continuing “gender injustice, low growth and enormous economic differences (poverty)”, says one commentator responding to the report.
Another source points out that civil liberties in India have been over-estimated and should have been ranked much lower. In areas such as the Northeast and J&K, there are serious limitations to civil liberties. And that political participation figures do not fully take into account that much of the country continues to have no clue re the principles and ways of democracy.
Particularly, it is only in times of crisis In India that political participation seems to go up, but then, civil liberties take a nose-dive.
In India, says another expert, “problems in the electoral process (a colonial hangover) are systemic. It needs to be overhauled urgently. The report instead of flagging this great flaw gives them a high ranking presumably because elections are widely accepted to be free and fair.”
Which, clearly they are not anywhere in India.
INDICATORS
In the Prosperity Index, India has slipped within the last 12 months, from # 91 to # 101. China is # 55!
In the Human Development Index, India ranks at # 136, close to where Pakistan is, but way behind China!
In the Inequality - Human Development Index, India is at # 91 … again, lagging far behind China!
The Economic Freedom Index ranks India at # 119, neck to neck with Pakistan! Post-apartheid South Africa is relatively shining at # 74!
On the World Press Freedom India, India has slipped in the past year alone from # 131 to # 140, keeping it squarely in the same league as Pakistan.
What is most shocking, however, is that in the Gender Inequality Index, India has not only slipped further down the list to # 132, but continues to be 9 ranks LOWER than Pakistan!
Not much of a democracy, points out this Intelligence Unit Report.
[Based on report by Samar Khurshid, Hindustan Times]
April 29, 2013