Editorial 1: The sorry state of India’s parliamentary proceedings
The Decline of Parliamentary Proceedings: A Threat to India’s Democracy
Context
The diminishing stature and effectiveness of India’s Parliament pose a grave threat to the health of the nation’s democracy. The Winter Session of Parliament, marred by competitive disruptions from both the Opposition and Treasury benches, exemplifies this deterioration. Frequent adjournments, minimal legislative output, and public discord among Members of Parliament (MPs) have undermined the institution’s sanctity and purpose.
Introduction
Parliament, often revered as the temple of democracy, has devolved into a platform for acrimonious confrontations and disruptions. The recent incidents of MPs engaging in dueling demonstrations and mutual accusations of assault reflect a deep-seated crisis. For citizens who hold Parliament in high esteem, this scenario represents a betrayal of its role as a cornerstone of democracy.
Factors Contributing to the Decline
- Precedent of Disruption
- The roots of parliamentary disruption lie in historical practices. Opposition parties often view disruptions as a legitimate tool of protest, a sentiment endorsed by successive governments in their opposition roles.
- Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee highlighted the challenges in enforcing decorum, citing resistance from all parties to stringent measures like suspension or expulsion of unruly MPs.
- Over time, such disruptions have become an accepted, albeit damaging, convention in Indian parliamentary practice.
- Erosion of Civility and Cooperation
- Indian politics once thrived on mutual respect, as exemplified by anecdotes like Jawaharlal Nehru’s support for Atal Bihari Vajpayee and P.V. Narasimha Rao’s delegation of Vajpayee to a UN meeting.
- Today, this spirit of cooperation has been replaced by hostility. The ruling party often labels the Opposition “anti-national,” while the Opposition views itself as righteous underdogs battling overwhelming odds.
- The absence of trust and good faith between the government and the Opposition has made common ground increasingly elusive.
- Deterioration of Parliamentary Talent and Performance
- Parliament was once a stage for towering orators and skilled debaters like Ram Manohar Lohia and Piloo Mody, whose performances earned them widespread admiration.
- In contrast, contemporary MPs are judged more on their local political influence and constituent services than their contributions to parliamentary debates.
- This shift has resulted in a decline in the quality of legislative discussions, with MPs prioritizing disruptive tactics over meaningful deliberations.
- Public’s Diminished Expectations
- The electorate no longer evaluates representatives based on their parliamentary performance but rather on their ability to deliver local benefits.
- This change in public criteria has weakened the incentive for MPs to engage meaningfully in legislative processes.
The Government’s Role and Approach
- Marginalization of Parliament
- The government has displayed an increasing tendency to bypass parliamentary scrutiny, treating it as a rubber stamp for decisions rather than a consultative body.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s infrequent presence in Parliament, unlike Nehru’s daily attendance, signals a shift in how the executive engages with the legislature.
- Passing Bills Without Debate
- Recent sessions have seen the government steamroll crucial Bills without sufficient discussion or opposition input, further eroding parliamentary democracy.
- This approach undermines the deliberative nature of the legislature, reducing it to a noticeboard for executive decisions.
Consequences and the Path Forward
- Impact on Democracy
- The decline of Parliament weakens the accountability mechanisms essential to democracy.
- A disengaged public and ineffective MPs together create a feedback loop, where diminished expectations perpetuate the erosion of parliamentary standards.
- Recommendations for Revival
- Restoring Decorum: Enforcing rules of conduct and penalizing disruptions to ensure that parliamentary proceedings remain productive.
- Building Consensus: Encouraging dialogue and collaboration between the government and Opposition to rebuild trust and civility.
- Enhancing Representation: Fostering a political culture that values oratory, debate, and legislative expertise.
- Strengthening Parliamentary Processes: Ensuring that the government respects Parliament’s role as a deliberative and consultative institution.
Conclusion
The current state of India’s parliamentary proceedings represents a profound challenge to the nation’s democratic ethos. Parliament must reclaim its stature as the crucible of debate, accountability, and lawmaking. Its custodians—both government and Opposition—must rise above partisan acrimony and prioritize the institution’s sanctity. Failure to do so risks rendering Parliament irrelevant, depriving democracy of its most vital pillar.
Editorial 2: Tackling delimitation by reversing population control
Context
The proposed delimitation exercise, which may lead to a reallocation of parliamentary seats based on population, has sparked concerns among southern states. Leaders from these states argue that their success in achieving lower fertility rates—a significant milestone in population control—could paradoxically result in reduced political representation, raising critical questions about the balance between population control and democratic equity.
Introduction
The Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, N. Chandrababu Naidu and M.K. Stalin, respectively, have voiced concerns over the potential reduction in parliamentary seats due to the south’s advanced fertility transition. Southern states, which have led the way in implementing effective family planning measures, are now facing a reduced share of the population compared to the northern states. This has sparked debates on whether the success of population control measures should come at the cost of political representation.
The Challenge of Fertility Decline and Its Reversal
The central question is whether declining fertility rates can be arrested or reversed through targeted interventions. Evidence suggests that achieving low fertility during a demographic transition is rarely reversible by policy measures.
- Natural Fertility Reversals
- Minor reversals in fertility trends may occur naturally, as seen in certain global contexts.
- However, these changes are marginal and not significant enough to offset broader demographic transitions.
- Global Efforts to Reverse Fertility Decline
- Countries have attempted to incentivize higher fertility through policies like financial benefits, childcare support, and parental leave.
- Despite these measures, the outcomes have been largely ineffective, as socio-economic and cultural factors play a dominant role in shaping fertility trends.
Lessons from China’s One-Child Policy
China’s one-child policy offers a cautionary tale about the long-term consequences of aggressive population control measures:
- Marriage Market Imbalance: A skewed gender ratio has created significant challenges in the marriage market.
- Dependency Burden: A rapidly aging population has increased the dependency ratio, straining social and economic systems.
- Extreme Low Fertility: Fertility rates have plummeted to levels that are difficult, if not impossible, to reverse, leading to a potential demographic crisis.
Southern States’ Responses to Delimitation Concerns
The political leadership in southern states has raised questions about whether population control policies should be revisited to maintain political representation.
- Proposals by Andhra Pradesh
- Past legislation barred individuals with more than two children from contesting local elections, a measure aligned with family planning goals.
- However, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has proposed reconsidering this approach, potentially offering incentives to larger families to address the delimitation challenge.
- Tamil Nadu’s Perspective
- Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, though partly in jest, questioned the rationale for limiting family size when it could diminish the state’s political influence.
- His remarks underscore the broader frustration over the perceived penalization of states that have achieved demographic stability.
Key Considerations for Delimitation
- Balancing Equity and Representation
- Delimitation should account for both population size and the efforts of states to achieve developmental goals, including population control.
- A simplistic redistribution based solely on population risks alienating progressive states and undermining cooperative federalism.
- Encouraging Sustainable Population Policies
- Policies should incentivize continued adherence to sustainable population practices while addressing concerns about representation through alternative mechanisms, such as weighted representation.
- Avoiding Policy Reversals
- Reversing successful family planning measures could lead to long-term socio-economic challenges, as evidenced by global experiences.
- The focus should be on inclusive growth and equitable resource distribution rather than incentivizing higher fertility.
Conclusion
The delimitation debate highlights a critical tension between democratic representation and population control. While southern states’ concerns are valid, reversing successful family planning policies is neither practical nor sustainable. Instead, a nuanced approach is required—one that recognizes the achievements of states in controlling population while ensuring that political representation remains equitable and reflective of India’s federal character. This will strengthen the foundations of cooperative federalism and ensure balanced development across regions.
